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Catalysis of the Hydration of Acetylenic Compounds by Ruthenium(III) Chloride

Journal Article · · Journal of the American Chemical Society
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ja01480a036· OSTI ID:4834035
Ruthenium(III) chloride, in aqueous solution, is reported as an effective catalyst for the hydration of acetylenic compounds. In a typical experiment at 50 deg C, acetylene, at atmospheric pressure, was taken up by a 5 M HCl solution containing 0.1 M Ru(III) and converted to acetaldehyde (along with a small amount of crotonaldehyde) at a rate of 2 x 10/sup -3/ mole/liter min. Methylacetylene and ethylacetylene were converted, under similar conditions, to acetone and methyl ethyl ketone, respectively. With phenylpropiolic acid the final products were acetophenone and carbon dioxide. The rate law for the hydration of acetylene was found to be -d (C/sub 2/H/sub 2/!/dt = k STAC/sub 2/H/ sub 2/! (Ru(III)!. The rate constant, k, varied with the HCl concentration, passing through a maximum at about 4 M HCl, and falling off very markedly at higher concentrations. Discussion is also given on the mechanisms. (P.C.H.)
Research Organization:
Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-16-000167
OSTI ID:
4834035
Journal Information:
Journal of the American Chemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the American Chemical Society Journal Issue: 19 Vol. 83; ISSN 0002-7863
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English