Surface co-ordination reactions of β-dicarbonyl compounds with metallic copper

Abstract

Surface co-ordinations of dibenzoylmethane, acetylacetone and ethyl acetoacetate with metallic copper in the presence of air have been studied by the use of surface-enhanced Raman scattering, X-ray photoelectron and infrared spectroscopies. Oxygen coadsorbed on the copper surface promoted the reactions through cleavage of the methylene C–H bond. It was found that metallic copper could promote these surface reactions with dicarbonyl compounds, while copper in higher oxidation states appeared to be inactive under the same conditions.