Ion-molecule reactions studied by nuclear decay technique. Tritiated naphthylium ions

• Published in: Radiation physics and chemistry (1993) 1996-03, Vol.47 (3), p.465-468
• Main Authors: Keheyan, Y., Bassanelli, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Physical chemistry of induced reactions (with radiations, particles and ultrasonics); Radiation chemistry
• ISSN: 0969-806X; 1879-0895
• DOI: 10.1016/0969-806X(95)00148-Q

Naphthylium ions generated by β tritium nuclear decay of 1,4-bitritionaphthalene were allowed to react in the gas phase with benzene. The reaction was studied at benzene pressures ranging from 5 to 60 torr, in the presence of a thermal radical scavenger [O 2]. The effect of the gaseous base [(CH 3) 3N] and of a noble gas [Ar] on the reaction were also investigated. The naphthylium ions react with benzene in the gas phase, yielding 1- and 2-phenylnaphthalenes, whose ratio markedly increases with the pressure of benzene and the concentration of the base. At the higher benzene pressures, and in the presence of the base, the isomeric composition of the products appears kinetically controlled and corresponds to a ratio 1:2 phenylnaphthalenes of 5.75. Moreover, this ratio reaches the value 7.33 in the presence of 400 torr of Argon. The mechanism of the gas phase naphthylation is discussed.