Synthetical Applications of Activated Metal Catalysts. XVI. The Role of Hydrogen in the Formation of 2,2'-Bipyridyl from Pyridine under the Influence of Degassed Raney Nickel

Abstract

The efficiency of W7 Raney nickel catalysts degassed between 30 and 400°C in the preparation of 2,2'-bipyridyl has been examined. The highest activities are observed with catalysts which have been degassed at 200°C, and these catalysts arc up to 20% more efficient than catalysts previously used and degassed at 100°C. The results obtained are compared with published data concerning the hydrogen contents of degassed Raney nickel catalysts (Kokes and Emmett 1959, 1960). This shows that catalysts which are virtually free of hydrogen are only 25% less efficient than catalysts degassed at l00°C (containing 65 to 70% of their original hydrogen). Because of this finding a new mechanism is proposed in which the adsorbed pyridine is activated by the transfer of an electron from the catalyst. On stereochemical grounds it is proposed that meso-2,2'-dihydro-2,2'-bipyridyl with axially disposed hydrogen atoms at the 2,2'-positions and bonded via both nitrogen atoms to one nickel atom is the energetically most favoured intermediate.