The Preparation of Heavy Metal Hydride and Its Catalytic Activity. VIII Information on the Mechanism of Iron Hydride Formation

Some information on the mechanism of iron hydride formation in the reaction of iron (III) chloride with phenylmagnesium bromide under a hydrogen atmosphere has been presented. When the molar ratio (C6H5MgBr/FeCl3) is larger than 5, 3–4 (mol./mol. FeCl3) of hydrogen is absorbed during the synthesis of hydrides. The amounts of benzene, one of the by-products formed in the synthesis, have also been determined. The treatment of these hydrides with styrene under a nitrogen atmosphere has given ethylbenzene in amounts which correlate well with the amounts of hydrogen absorbed during the hydride synthesis. These observations can be taken as support for the formation of iron hydride. On the other hand, a mixture prepared by the reaction of iron(III) chloride with phenylmagnesium bromide under a nitrogen atmosphere evolved about 0.5 (mol./mol.FeCl3) of hydrogen on hydrolysis. When the hydride prepared under a hydrogen atmosphere was hydrolyzed with dideuterosulfuric acid, D2 as well as HD was evolved. These result...