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Amides to Amines: LiAlH4 Reduction01:20

Amides to Amines: LiAlH4 Reduction

6.6K
Amide reduction with strong reducing agents like lithium aluminum hydride proceeds through a nucleophilic acyl substitution to form amines. Primary, secondary, and tertiary amides yield primary, secondary, and tertiary amines, respectively.
Amide reduction requires two equivalents of the reducing agent, acting as a source of hydride ions. As shown in the figure, the reaction is initiated with a nucleophilic attack by the hydride ion at the carbonyl carbon to form a tetrahedral intermediate.
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Nitriles to Amines: LiAlH4 Reduction00:55

Nitriles to Amines: LiAlH4 Reduction

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Nitriles are reduced to amines in the presence of strong reducing agents like lithium aluminum hydride through a typical nucleophilic acyl substitution. The reaction requires two equivalents of the reducing agent. The reducing agent acts as a source of hydride ions.
As shown below, the mechanism involves three steps. Firstly, the hydride ion acting as a nucleophile attacks the nitrile carbon to form an anion. In the second step, a second equivalent of the hydride ion attacks the anion to...
4.9K
Aldehydes and Ketones with Amines: Imine Formation Mechanism01:23

Aldehydes and Ketones with Amines: Imine Formation Mechanism

9.0K
Imine formation involves the addition of carbonyl compounds to a primary amine. It begins with the generation of carbinolamine through a series of steps involving an initial nucleophilic attack and then several proton transfer reactions. The second part includes the elimination of water, as a leaving group, to give the imine.
Imines are formed under mildly acidic conditions. A pH of 4.5 is ideal for the reaction.
If the pH is low or the solution is too acidic, the reaction slows down in the...
9.0K
Catalysis02:50

Catalysis

32.0K
The presence of a catalyst affects the rate of a chemical reaction. A catalyst is a substance that can increase the reaction rate without being consumed during the process. A basic comprehension of a catalysts’ role during chemical reactions can be understood from the concept of reaction mechanisms and energy diagrams.
32.0K
Preparation of Aldehydes and Ketones from Nitriles and Carboxylic Acids01:24

Preparation of Aldehydes and Ketones from Nitriles and Carboxylic Acids

4.7K
Although it is possible to reduce a carboxylic acid to an aldehyde, strong reducing agents, like lithium aluminum hydride (LAH), prohibit a controlled reduction, instead causing the generated aldehyde to instantly over-reduce to a primary alcohol.
Reducing carboxylic acid derivatives like acyl chlorides (RCOCl), esters (RCO2R′), and nitriles (RCN) using milder aluminum hydride agents like lithium tri-tert-butoxyaluminum hydride [LiAlH(O-t-Bu)3] and diisobutylaluminum hydride [DIBAL-H]...
4.7K
Reduction of Alkynes to trans-Alkenes: Sodium in Liquid Ammonia02:10

Reduction of Alkynes to trans-Alkenes: Sodium in Liquid Ammonia

10.8K
Alkynes can be reduced to trans-alkenes using sodium or lithium in liquid ammonia. The reaction, known as dissolving metal reduction, proceeds with an anti addition of hydrogen across the carbon–carbon triple bond to form the trans product. Since ammonia exists as a gas (bp = −33°C) at room temperature, the reaction is carried out at low temperatures using a mixture of dry ice (sublimes at −78°C) and acetone. 
When dissolved in liquid ammonia, an alkali metal, such as sodium,...
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Ammonia decomposition catalysis using lithium-calcium imide.

Joshua W Makepeace1, Hazel M A Hunter2, Thomas J Wood2

  • 1Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QR, UK and ISIS Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0QX, UK. bill.david@stfc.ac.uk.

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|April 20, 2016
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Lithium-calcium imide demonstrates high ammonia decomposition activity, outperforming other light metal catalysts at lower temperatures. Its near-complete mass recovery suggests improved catalyst containment for ammonia conversion processes.

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Area of Science:

  • Catalysis
  • Materials Science
  • Chemical Engineering

Background:

  • Ammonia decomposition is crucial for hydrogen production and nitrogen fixation.
  • Developing efficient and stable catalysts for ammonia decomposition is an ongoing challenge.
  • Light metal amides and imides are promising candidates for ammonia decomposition catalysis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate lithium-calcium imide as a novel catalyst for ammonia decomposition.
  • To compare its catalytic activity and stability with existing catalysts.
  • To understand the catalyst's behavior under reaction conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis and characterization of lithium-calcium imide.
  • Testing catalytic activity in ammonia decomposition under various temperatures.
  • In situ powder X-ray diffraction to study catalyst stability and phase transformations.

Main Results:

  • Lithium-calcium imide exhibits the highest reported ammonia decomposition activity for a pure light metal amide or imide.
  • Superior conversion rates were observed at lower temperatures compared to high-temperature benchmarks.
  • The catalyst showed near-complete mass recovery post-reaction, indicating good containment.
  • In situ diffraction revealed catalyst decomposition to lithium amide-imide and calcium imide between 200-460 °C.

Conclusions:

  • Lithium-calcium imide is a highly active and potentially recoverable catalyst for ammonia decomposition.
  • Its stability window requires further investigation for optimal application.
  • This material offers a promising alternative for catalytic ammonia conversion.