Communication

Birch Reduction of Benzene in a Low-Temperature Plasma†

  1. Na Na1,2,
  2. Yu Xia2,
  3. Zhenli Zhu1,
  4. Xinrong Zhang Prof.1,
  5. R. Graham Cooks Prof.2

Article first published online: 4 FEB 2009

DOI: 10.1002/anie.200805256

Issue

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Volume 48, Issue 11, pages 2017–2019, March 2, 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Na, N., Xia, Y., Zhu, Z., Zhang, X. and Cooks, R. (2009), Birch Reduction of Benzene in a Low-Temperature Plasma. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 48: 2017–2019. doi: 10.1002/anie.200805256

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084 (P.R. China), Fax: (86) 10-62782485

  2. 2

    Department of Chemistry and Center for Analytical Instrumentation Development, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 (USA), Fax: (+1) 765-494-9421

  1. †

    Y.X. and R.G.C. acknowledge support from the US National Science Foundation (CHE04-12782). N.N acknowledges the China Scholarship Council ([2007]3020). Z.Z. and X.Z. acknowledge support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (20535020). We thank Dr. Karl Wood, Campus-Wide Mass Spectrometry Center at Purdue University, for GC-MS analysis.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 23 FEB 2009
  2. Article first published online: 4 FEB 2009
  3. Manuscript Received: 27 OCT 2008

Funded by

  • US National Science Foundation. Grant Number: CHE04-12782
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China. Grant Number: 20535020

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Keywords:

  • Birch reduction;
  • mass spectrometry;
  • plasma chemistry;
  • redox chemistry;
  • surface reactions

Graphical Abstract

Thumbnail image of graphical abstract

Selective and specific dihydrogenation of benzene and other arenes has been observed in a low-temperature helium plasma. A surface Birch reduction mechanism has been proposed in which benzene molecules adsorbed on the discharge surface capture low-energy surface-adsorbed electrons and subsequently undergo protonation (see picture). Gas-phase oxidation processes accompany the reduction reaction.

Abstract

Selective and specific dihydrogenation of benzene and other arenes has been observed in a low-temperature helium plasma. A surface Birch reduction mechanism has been proposed in which benzene molecules adsorbed on the discharge surface capture low-energy surface-adsorbed electrons and subsequently undergo protonation (see picture). Gas-phase oxidation processes accompany the reduction reaction.

View Full Article with Supporting Information (HTML) Get PDF (269K)