Low-Temperature Reactions of Metal Atoms with Methyl Bromide

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00368a016

The atoms of a series of metals were codeposited with CH3Br under matrix conditions (argon diluent at 12 K and pure CH3Br at 77 K).Oxidative addition of CH3Br to Fe, Co, Ni, and Pd did not occur upon simple codeposition or upon matrix photolysis, which is rationalized by the formation of a favored CH3Br-M complex.Cu, Ag, and Au behaved similary.Main-group metals Mg, Al, Ga, and In did react to form CH3MBr whereas Zn, Tl, Ge, Sn, and Pb did not.For the group 1B - 4B (Cu, Zn, B, C) families the most important reactivity parameter is a low ionization potential.However, a high heat of vaporization of the element also has a positive effect on reactivity.In the case of Mg, clusters may be necessary for high reactivity.