The single electron chemistry of coals. Quarterly report, July 1--September 30, 1992
Depolymerization of coals at low temperatures may offer advantages over thermal bond cleavage. Because bond cleavage energies of radical cations are lower than the corresponding homolytic bond cleavage energies of the same bond, generation of radical cations in coal may make possible depolymerization at lower temperatures. We seek to investigate the above possibility using single molecules containing functional groups common in coals. Since the generation of a radical cation requires the removal of an electron from a neutral molecule, a primary focus of the study will be finding oxidants that will remove an electron from compounds with structural similarity to those typically found in coals. The study will also be concerned with the decomposition of radical cations and the products formed as a result of the decomposition. In our last report we described that treatment of bibenzyl and neo-pentylbenzene with Fe(III) (1,10-phenanthroline){sub 3}(ClO{sub 4}){sub 3} (Fe(III)(PHEN)) in refluxing CH{sub 3}CN (82{degrees}C) failed to produce substantial bond cleavage {beta} to the aromatic ring. Because bond cleavage was not observed, we have continued our study by moving to compounds which have lower ionization potentials as well as study other oxidants.
- Research Organization:
- Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, PA (United States). Dept. of Chemistry
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG22-89PC89785
- OSTI ID:
- 10109356
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/PC/89785-12; ON: DE93006014
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 11 Nov 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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