CARBON-CARBON BOND ACTIVATION OF CYCLOPROPANE BY SUBSURFACE HYDROGEN ON THE NI(111) SURFACE

Carbon-carbon bond activation by subsurface hydrogen has been observed for adsorbed cyclopropane at 170 K on the Ni(lll) surface. Propane wa s the dominant product, and no multiple C-C bond activation processes were observed. Cyclopropane desorbs at 124 K from both the clean and t he hydrogen-coadsorbed Ni(lll) surface. Neither coadsorbed hydrogen no r disproportionation induces propane formation. These observations are consistent with previous results that energetic forms of hydrogen are necessary to activate the C-C bond even in strained cyclopropane unde r ultrahigh-vacuum conditions.