SPECTROELECTROCHEMICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF THE INTERACTION OF ETHYL XANTHATE WITH COPPER, SILVER AND GOLD - I - FT-RAMAN AND NMR-SPECTRA OF THE XANTHATE COMPOUNDS

Raman and C-13 NMR spectroscopies have been applied to characterise th e ethyl xanthate compounds of potassium, sodium, copper, silver, and g old, and diethyl dixanthogen in order to provide a basis for investiga ting the interaction of ethyl xanthate with metal surfaces. Spectra fo r the various species in the solid state obtained by both techniques a re interpreted in terms of molecular conformation and differences in a tomic environments in the crystal structure. Spectra for potassium eth yl xanthate in aqueous solution provide evidence of hydrophobic intera ction between the hydrocarbon moiety and water. Raman spectroscopy pro vides an effective means of distinguishing between dixanthogen and met al xanthates. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.