CHED 1357

¹³C solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), a powerful analytical tool for photochemical reactions in zeolites

Tina T. Nguyen, tinanguy@msmc.la.edu, Ammee M Amboya, ammeambo@msmc.la.edu, Sheley Mae Baylon, shelbayl@msmc.la.edu, and Hien Huynh, hienhuyn@msmc.la.edu. Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Mount St. Mary's College, 12001 Chalon Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90049

We investigated bimolecular photochemical reactions of prochiral chromophores, such as acetophenone adsorbed in zeolites by NMR. The bimolecular photochemical reactions that were selected to be studied were according to the size and shape of the molecules. The photochemical reaction between acetophenone and cyclohexane that was adsorbed in zeoliteY was investigated. The result is very selective when carried out inside the zeolite, leading to 1-cyclohexyl-1, phenylethanol as the only product. Our methods involve the photolysis of the samples in zeolite while stirring in cyclohexane under argon. Cyclohexane was evaporated under argon prior to conducting the solid-state NMR experiments. Solid-state ¹³C NMR methods are used to investigate photochemical reactions taking place inside zeolites. ¹³C Cross Polarization Magic Angle Spinning NMR was used to follow the photochemical reaction of acetophenone and cyclohexane at different photolysis times. The inefficiency of intermolecular polarization transfer indicates that cyclohexane is not in close proximity to the acetophenone.

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Physical Chemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, March 26, 2007 Hyatt Regency Chicago -- Riverside Center, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007