Interaction of D(H) atoms with physisorbed benzene and (1,4)-dimethyl-cyclohexane: Hydrogenation and H abstraction

Abstract

Benzene and (1,4)-dimethyl-cyclohexane monolayers were physisorbed on graphite covered Pt(111) surfaces. Exposure of benzene monolayers at 125 K to D atoms (1700 K) initially hydrogenates sp2 hybridized C atoms with a cross section of ca. 8 Å2 producing C6H6D intermediates. Additional D atom reactions either transform this intermediate via a second hydrogenation reaction to cyclohexadiene-d2, C6H6D2, or restore benzene, C6H5D, via H abstraction. Once the aromaticity is broken, successive hydrogenation of the diene occurs rapidly generating the saturated cyclohexane-d6, C6H6D6. The C6H5D reaction product can undergo further H/D exchange reactions and, at any level of deuteration, the benzene species might get hydrogenated. Monolayers of the saturated hydrocarbon (1,4)-dimethyl-cyclohexane (DMCH) that are exposed to D atoms produce deuterated DMCH via successive abstraction/hydrogenation reactions. Thermal desorption mass spectra revealed that H atoms at the ring were exchanged with an apparent cross section of 1.7 Å2. Methyl groups H atoms were exchanged much more slowly than ring H atoms. It was also observed that D exposed molecules/radicals exhibit a tendency to desorb from the surface, which is ascribed to the exothermicity of the reactions which lead to these species.