An infrared spectroscopic study of the promotion of the metal-catalyzed exchange of silica OH groups with gaseous deuterium

Abstract

A study has been made of the metal-catalyzed exchange of silica OH groups of an indium-silica catalyst with deuterium gas at 25 °C. This catalytic reaction proceeds more slowly on 'hydrogen-covered' than on 'bare' indium, and does not proceed measurably on silica alone at this temperature. However, a considerable number of preadsorbed molecules have been found to promote this catalytic reaction; acetal-dehyde, chloral (1,1,1-trichloroacetaldehyde), and acetonitrile lead to an OH → OD reaction with a half life of less than 5 min. A few experiments indicate that chloral-promoted platinum-silica also leads to very rapid exchange. © 1971.