Homogeneous catalysis of the water-gas shift reaction by rhodium complexes in aqueous substituted pyridine solutions

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0304-5102(89)85009-6

Described are quantitative studies of the water-gas shift reaction (WGSR) catalysis by homogeneous solutions of RhCl₃ in aqueous pyridine and other substituted pyridine solutions. This system is a stable, moderately active catalyst displaying turnover frequencies for hydrogen production (TF(H₂)) of about 10² moles H₂ per mole Rh per day for [Rh] = 0.01 mol 1^-1, P(CO) = 0.9 atm and T = 100°C with an E_a value of approximately 11.5 kcal mol^-1 deg^-1. The TF(H₂) values were first order in P(CO) but displayed a complex dependence on [Rh].