Mechanically activated transformation of heteroaromatic compounds in the presence of lanthanide metals

The reaction of pyridine, quinoline, and thiophene with lanthanide metals ( Nd, Gd) at 20 degreesC under mechanical activation conditions was studied. It was found that the aromatic ring opening takes place in all cases, yield ing linear polyconjugated polymers. IR spectroscopy data suggest that the n itrogen-containing cycle alone undergoes ring opening in the quinoline mole cule. According to the elemental analysis data, the polymer produced from t hiophene has a lower sulfur content, thus indicating the occurrence of desu lfurization of the polymer or the thiophene itself by the action of an acti vated metal. Another pathway of the reaction between heteroaromatic compoun ds and lanthanides is the metal insertion into the C-H bond, yielding organ olanthanum hydride.