Generation of radical species in surface reactions of chlorohydrocarbons and chlorocarbons with fluorinated gallium(III) oxide or indium(III) oxide

Abstract

The reactions of C1 and C2 chlorohydrocarbons and chlorocarbons have been studied with the Lewis acid catalysts fluorinated gallium(III) oxide and fluorinated indium(III) oxide, respectively. Product analysis shows chlorine-for-fluorine exchange reactions together with the formation of 2-methylpropane and its chlorinated analogues 2-chloromethyl-1,3-dichloropropane and 2-chloromethyl-1,2,3-trichloropropane. Reactivities of the chlorohydrocarbon probe molecules show fluorinated gallium(III) oxide to be a stronger Lewis acid than fluorinated indium(III) oxide. The formation of the symmetrical butyl compounds is consistent with the generation of surface radical species and is also consistent with a 1,2-migration mechanism operating within radical moieties at the Lewis acid surface.