In situ spectroscopic studies of a heterogeneous system: Palladium-catalyzed hydrodehalogenation of organohalides

CHED 1207

Tim J. Dunn, dunn.tim@gmail.com and Jon Marhenke. Department of Chemistry, California State University Chico, 400 West First Street, Chico, CA 95929-0210
Spectroscopic studies were carried out in order to provide mechanistic information with regard to heterogeneously catalyzed hydrodehalogenation of organohalides in water using palladized iron. Due to spectroscopic challenges inherent in studying a heterogeneous, aqueous environment, a technique was developed that used FTIR-ATR to monitor the reaction in situ. Using this technique, the disappearance of organohalides as a function of time was observed directly. We have currently expanded our spectroscopic studies to include the use of nickel mesh as a tool for characterizing surface species with FTIR transmission spectroscopy.