A Convenient Method for the Direct Acquisition of Kinetic Rate Data for Catalytic Organic Reactions by Gas Uptake Measurements.

Abstract

Kinetics studies play an indispensable role in determining the mechanism of many catalytic organic reactions. In this context, real-time rate data, rather than concentration data, have proved particularly valuable for mechanistic analysis. However, methods that can directly yield rate data of sufficiently high quality are still limited. In this paper, a convenient method for the direct measurement of rate profiles of homogeneous catalytic organic reactions that involve a gaseous reactant is described. By integrating a high-precision pressure controller and an accurate mass flow meter, real-time rate profiles of catalytic reactions on a research laboratory scale at isobaric conditions could be acquired. The method is precise, easy to implement for most organic chemists, and can produce kinetic data of comparable or even superior quality to established kinetic methods, such as ReactIR. The potential of this method in kinetics studies was demonstrated by the study of the initial rate and reaction progress kinetic analysis of several aerobic oxidation reactions.