Activation of Hydrogen with 2, 2'-Bipyridyl-and 1, 10-Phenanthroline-Alkali Metal Complex Catalysts

Abstract

2, 2'-Bipyridyl and 1, 10-phenanthroline complexes with lithium, sodium and potassium exchanged their hydrogen with gaseous deuterium at 100eC to form HD with respective different rates, V, .. The exchange of potassium complexes with deuterium gave 2, 2'-bipyridyl 6-d and 1, 10-phenanthroline 5-d, The rates of HD formation from H D2 mixture over those complexes, V.q, were mostly larger than V, ., as summarized in Table 1; this indicated that the reaction occurred which did not exchange hydrogen in this complex. The overall aetivity for the H2--D2 exchange increased with increasing V., q/V.. ratio, and with changes from 2, 2'-bipyridyl to 1, 10-phenanthroline as well as those from lithium to potassium complexes. This increase in activity from lithium to potassium complexes corresponded to the change in activation energy. The intensity of ESR spectra of the complex observed near g=2.00 decreased when hydrogen Was intreduced and increased when it was removed, suggesting an interact ion of hydrogen with the unpaired electron as observed by the ESR.