Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Supercritical Nitrogen Processing for the Purification of Reactive Porous Materials
Published on: May 15, 2015
Photochemical Carbonylation of Ethane under Supercritical Conditions
Thomas E Bitterwolf1, Dinara Lukmanova Kline1, John C Linehan2
1Department of Chemistry, University of Idaho Moscow, ID 83844-2343 (USA) Fax: (+1) 208-885-6173.
Abstract:
Feasible photocatalysis: The rhodium catalyst [Rh(CO)(PMe3 )2 Cl] photochemically transforms ethane to propionaldehyde in single-phase mixtures of ethane and in carbon dioxide/ethane single phases [Eq. (1)]. A side reaction of carbon dioxide with the catalyst to give OPMe3 and [Rh(CO)2 (PMe3 )Cl] or [Rh2 (CO)2 (PMe3 )2 (μ-Cl)2 ] has also been observed.
Related Concept Videos
Conformations of Ethane and Propane
Staggered conformation is a low energy and more stable conformation with the C-H bonds on the front carbon placed at 60°dihedral angles relative to the C-H bonds on the back carbon, leading to a reduced torsional strain. In staggered...
Supercritical Fluid Chromatography
SFC utilizes a supercritical fluid mobile phase,...
The Photochemical Reaction Center
Nucleophilic Addition to the Carbonyl Group: General Mechanism
A stronger nucleophile can directly attack the electrophilic center, the carbonyl carbon. The HOMO orbital of the nucleophile interacts with the LUMO (π* antibonding) orbital present on the carbonyl carbon. This interaction breaks the π bond and shifts the π...
Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Photochemical Activation
Alcohols from Carbonyl Compounds: Reduction
Catalytic hydrogenation is similar to the reduction of an alkene or alkyne by adding H2 across the pi bond in the presence of transition metal catalysts like Raney Ni, Pd–C, Pt, or Ru. Aldehydes and ketones can be reduced by this method, often under mild to moderate heat (25–100°C) and...

