CHEMISTRY OF RUTHENIUM IN POLYSULFONE - REACTIONS WITH VARIOUS SMALL GAS MOLECULES

RuCl3 . 3H2O complexes are incorporated into polysulfone (PS) as a dis persion medium using a cosolvent (tetrahydrofuran) in the metal comple x concentration range of 5-30 wt.%. The interactions between Ru(III) c omplexes and PS are examined by infrared spectroscopy and thermal anal yses (differential scanning calorimetry, DSC). The chemical reactiviti es of Ru in PS are investigated by reacting Ru sites with CO, H-2, O2, NO, D2, N2, and C2H4 gases in the static state under relatively mild conditions. Various Ru carbonyl, nitrosyl and hydride species formed i n PS are characterized by infrared spectroscopic analyses and isotopic methods. Partial reduction of Ru(III) to Ru(II) is observed in reacti ons of the Ru-containing PS films with CO-H2O or H-2. These films show catalytic activities in the hydrogenation of ethylene, a water-gas sh ift reaction and reduction of NO under relatively mild conditions.