Re: TOJC- Reaction of inert compounds
aldenjc@plu.edu
Thu, 12 Dec 1996 23:16:40 -0800 (PST)
Mike,
I would agree with you that alkanes are saturated and undergo
comparitively few reactions. To answer your question though, I do not
believe mild conditions will acomplish the results you are looking for.
On page 370,there is a table with single bond homolytic dissociation
energies. The energy for breaking an H off of a CH4 requires 104
kcal/mol, and to break a carbon off a propane requires 80 kcal/mol. I
believe that these are both high energy reactions. I am not familiar with
any reactions to break them under more mild conditions. If anyone
disagrees, or knows of a better way, please respond.
Jacob Alden <aldenjc>
On Thu, 12 Dec 1996 charlemc@plu.edu wrote:
> Alkanes are among the most inert of chemical compounds because
> they are saturated; that is, their molecules contain only single bonds
> between atoms. (These atoms are just carbon and hydrogen.) Alkanes
> undergo comparatively few reactions, and those only under drastic
> conditions, such as combustion. Is there a way to activate (break)
> alkanes under mild conditions?
>
> Michael Charles
>
>