Application of crown ethers as phase transfer catalysts in the electron transfer reactions of coal

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Prepr. Pap., Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6650685

Narayan, R; Tsao, G T

The discovery by Pedersen that certain macrocyclic polyethers called crown ethers have the ability to complex alkali metal cations, and the results of Dye and Kaempf in the solubilization of alkali metals using these crown ethers, suggests the use of crown ethers to act as phase transfer catalyst in the electron transfer reaction with coal. Thus, a stable solution of electrons can be prepared in an inert ethereal solvent like THF at room temperature because the equilibrium M in equilibrium M/sup +/ + e/sup -/ solvated is shifted to the right by the complexation equilibrium M/sup +/ + crown ether ..-->.. M/sup +/ CE - complex. The limitations of solubility, decomposition problems, reactivity and incorporation of the electron transfer agent can be overcome. Another important facet of the crown ethers is that they have been successfully employed as reagents for direct solid-liquid phase transfer reactions. Thus, the problem of interphasic electron transport from solution to the aromatic substrate in coal would be solved, because the crown ether can function as a phase-transfer catalyst. Further, the complexation of K by crown ether results in the metal cation being held inside the cavity of the crown ether and the resulting ion pair is loose. This would promote the irreversible electron transfer with bond cleavage.

• Research Organization: Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
• OSTI ID: 6650685
• Report Number(s): CONF-830814-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Prepr. Pap., Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem.; (United States) Journal Volume: 28:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010400* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Processing
ALKALI METAL COMPLEXES
BINDING ENERGY
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CATIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
COAL
COMPLEXES
ELECTRON TRANSFER
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUILIBRIUM
ETHERS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
FURANS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
IONS
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
REAGENTS
SOLUBILITY
TETRAHYDROFURAN