THERMAL ISOMERIZATION OF QUADRICYCLANE TO NORBORNADIENE CATALYZED BY COPPER(II) AND TIN(II) SALTS.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00363a032

Copper(II) salts and tin(II) chloride show exceptional heterogeneous catalytic behavior in converting quadricyclane to norbornadiene in benzene. The heterogeneous catalysis mechanism is described by the adsorption of quadricyclane on the salt surface by a combination of a one-site and a two-site coordination. The two-site-coordination process results in the formation of C//7H//8X//2 (X equals Cl or Br) as a side product when CuCl//2 or CuBr//2 are used as catalysts. The rate constant for the disappearance of quadricyclane is much greater when CuCl//2 or CuBr//2 are used as catalysts. The rate constant for the disappearance of quadricyclane is much greater when CuCl//2 or CuBr//2 (approximately 10** minus **2 min** minus **1 cm** minus **2) is used than when CuSO//4 (approximately 10** minus **4 min** minus **1 cm** minus **2) is used.