Ninja - 7-6-2012 at 01:26
Hi!
Since pyrophoric iron is highly reactive i wonder if it is usable for reduction of organic materials. It is surely not strong enough to reduce a
carboxyl group but maybe a ketone such as acetone or even more complex compounds like Levulinic acid. I would try to heat (potentially molten) substance with it under an enviroment free of oxygen and water.
Any suggestions?
What can you do with pyrophoric iron?
Thanks, Ninja
AndersHoveland - 7-6-2012 at 02:11
I do not think you will be able to use water as the solvent, perhaps not even alcohol, as it would immediately react. Other than that, I would expect
it to be similar to Zn + HCl, reducing nitro groups to amines, reducing nitrate ions, and similar types of reductions...
it would probably act as a fairly strong reducing agent
[Edited on 7-6-2012 by AndersHoveland]