Vaylo - 29-10-2002 at 23:37
Hey all,
In the Phenol thread, PrimoPyro mentioned a technique for the timerization of acetylene to benzene using a CuCN catalyst. I was just wondering if
anyone could suply some further information on the reaction; conditions equipment etc (should the reaction take place in a bomb under pressure or
would a simpler setup work?) or, ideally, a reference for the procedure.
Thanks
Vaylo
Oops
PrimoPyro - 30-10-2002 at 04:53
The procedure is valid, but I stated the wrong catalyst. It is Zn(CN)2 not CuCN, sorry. Where I got CuCN from is beyond me.
The ref I have is in March's Advanced Organic Chemistry, 5th Ed. and it states that Zn(CN)2 initiates trimerization of acetylene to benzene at
atmospheric pressure.
I can quote the ref after some sleep. 
PrimoPyro
Marvin - 31-10-2002 at 09:36
Possibly becuase copper metal is also supposed to catalysed the process, get the temperature wrong and you end up with a porous black polymer.
Its only supposed to convert very slowly, I dont know if it could constitute a usful method of making benzene.
Given acetylene is sold as a gas dissolved in acetone, and its explosive nature, I think this is probably as uneconomical as it is unsafe.
vulture - 7-11-2002 at 05:56
If you use Ni(CN)2 as a catalyst, you'll end up with cyclooctatetraene, the 8 carbon homologe of benzene, formula:
C8H8.
I have no idea about reaction conditions though.