The coupling of atomic adsorbates on transition metal surfaces is important in a variety of catalytic processes. If the product of the coupling reaction does not desorb immediately into the gas phase, the existence and temperature of the reaction can be difficult to detect with surface sensitive techniques. As surface vibrational spectroscopy has a high degree of chemical specificity, it is often the preferred method for the identification of particular surface species. In the case of the coupling of carbon and nitrogen atoms, the CN product is not directly observable with reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), but can be unambiguously detected through its hydrogenation to aminocarbyne (CNH2), which has three strong and characteristic peaks in its RAIRS spectrum. Similarly, the C2 molecule can be readily detected through its hydrogenation to ethylidyne (CCH3), which also has three strong and characteristic RAIRS peaks. The identity of the reacting species is a key question in the carbon-carbon and carbon-nitrogen coupling reactions. In the case of CN formation, they are carbon and nitrogen atoms. In the case of C2Hx formation, the reacting species appear to by CHx species.

Carbon-carbon and carbon-nitrogen coupling reactions on the Pt(111) surface

239th National Meeting (2010)

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