ISOTOPIC STUDIES OF BORON HYDRIDES

Thesis/Dissertation · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1962

OSTI ID:4761304

Enrione, R E

Three reactions of boron hydrides were studied with the use of deuterium. At temperatures between 70 and 90 deg C and at a pressure of 240 mm, diborane-6 and deuterodiborane-6 were pyrolyzed and the rate or hydrogen or deuterium evolution was measured. The activation energies were 23.5 kcal/mole for diborane- 6 and 28.3 kcal/mole for deuterodiborape-6. The rate of decomposition of diborane6 was five times greater than that of deuterodiborane-6. Calculations were made to determine the relative concentrations of hydrogen- and deuterium- substituted intermediates involving both one and three boron atoms. The reaction of diborane-6 with parahydrogen and deuterium was also studied. The nature of the reaction was such that a mechanism could not be readily deduced. The reaction took place on the walls of the vessel, but was inhibited by the simultaneous and more rapid coating of the walls with decomposition products. The reaction between acetonitrile and selectively deuterated decaborane-14 was studied by measuring the isotopic content of the evolved hydrogen. On the basis of the data, certain limitations could be applied to any proposed mechanism. During the course of the reaction, exchange of hydrogen occurred among most or all of the ten positions around the top of the decaborane-l4 molecule. The presence of deuterium molecules in the evolving gas indicated that both atoms are probably eliminated from the positions that participate in the exchange. (P.C.H.)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-17-012302
• OSTI ID: 4761304
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACETIC ACID
BORON HYDRIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CYANIDES
DEUTERIUM
HYDROGEN
ISOMERS
ISOTOPIC EXCHANGE
MEASURED VALUES
PRESSURE
PYROLYSIS
REACTION KINETICS
TEMPERATURE
TRACER TECHNIQUES