REACTIONS OF ORGANONITROGEN MOLECULES WITH Ni(100).

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/j100314a031

The adsorption and reaction of a variety of organonitrogen compounds on a Ni(100) surface have been examined with temperature-programmed reaction, Auger electron spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy. Monomethylamine adsorbs via the nitrogen lone pair of electrons and then undergoes C-N bond scission yielding adsorbed carbon, dihydrogen, and ammonia. Aniline pi -bonds to the surface and polymerizes to form a thermally stable poly(aniline) surface film. Pyridine undergoes a temperature-induced orientational transformation. At low temperatures pyridine adsorbs with its ring parallel to the surface. At higher temperatures it appears to form an alpha -pyridyl species with an activation barrier of 85 kJ/mol. Methyl groups on 2,6-lutidine sterically hinder this reaction.