Kinetics of dimethyl zinc reacting with hydroxylated surfaces from the solution phase

COLL 207

Jonathan H. Gutow, Christopher Potratz, Dustyn Sawall, and Scott Zirngible. Chemistry Department, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, 800 Algoma Blvd, Oshkosh, WI 54901
Reactions of dimethyl zinc in solutions, such as tetrahydrofuran, with hydroxylated surfaces to make -Zn-CH3 terminated surfaces have been investigated.  The -Zn-CH3 terminated surfaces can then chemically bind larger molecules in the reaction: -Zn-CH3 + RAH --> -Zn-AR + CH4, where A=O or S usually, or react with water to form ZnO on the surface.  The kinetics of the dimethyl zinc + hydroxylated surface reaction were studied using quartz crystal microbalance and infrared spectroscopy methods.  This poster will report primarily on the results from the quartz crystal microbalance work, where evidence for two distinct reaction rates and a precursor-state was observed.  This work suggests that the achievable surface coverage of -ZnCH3 and the rate of reaction is sensitive to small changes in surface preparation, which can significantly effect the density of hydroxyls on the surface.