Measuring heterogeneous rate constants: Reactions at indium surfaces

CHED 185

Esthefanie Giordano, Yessica Baez Sosa, and Walter J. Bowyer. Department of Chemistry, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Scandling Center, Geneva, NY 14456
Indium mediated allylation has proven to be an extremely versatile reaction that proceeds in aqueous solutions, making it Green chemistry. However, few fundamental studies of the kinetics of the reaction have been completed. We have applied a photomicroscopic technique to the measurement of heterogeneous rate constants of this reaction. Here we describe kinetic measurements done with two geometries of reaction:

1. Constrain reactivity to a single face of the indium surface. The rate constant is estimated to be 9E-5 cm/s. The reaction is first order with respect to allyl bromide and zero order with respect to benzaldehyde.

2. Reactions on spherical beads. Preliminary results are consistent with measurements at a single face.

Each geometry offers its own experimental challenges.