KINETIC-STUDY OF THE REACTION OF NAPHTHYLLITHIUM WITH CARBON-MONOXIDEIN HEXANE TETRAHYDROFURAN SOLUTION

The rate of the reaction of naphthyllithium, 1, with CO in 80:20 hexan e-tetrahydrofuran (THF) was studied at 25-degrees-C. The determined se cond order kinetic law was found to be first order with respect to 1 a nd to CO. The observed specific rate coefficient is 6.63 +/- 0.35 dm3 Mol-1 s-1. Radical scavengers were observed to inhibit the CO uptake: this result, as well as the kinetic studies, are consistent with an el ectron transfer as the first and rate-determining step of the reaction . The rate of the reaction between 1 and THF was also determined and f ound to be 10(5) times slower than the reaction of 1 with CO.