Kinetic study of the reaction of naphthyllithium with carbon monoxide in hexane–tetrahydrofuran solution

Abstract

The rate of the reaction of naphthyllithium, 1, with CO in 80:20 hexane–tetrahydrofuran (THF) was studied at 25 °C. The determined second order kinetic law was found to be first order with respect to 1 and to CO. The observed specific rate coefficient is 6.63 ± 0.35 dm³ mol^–1 s^–1. Radical scavengers were observed to inhibit the CO uptake: this result, as well as the kinetic studies, are consistent with an electron transfer as the first and rate-determining step of the reaction. The rate of the reaction between 1 and THF was also determined and found to be 10⁵ times slower than the reaction of 1 with CO.