Title: Raney® Nickel (W. R. Grace)
CAS Registry Number: 7440-02-0
Additional Names: Raney nickel catalyst
Literature References: Prepd by fusing 50 parts nickel with 50 parts aluminum: Raney, US 1628190 (1927); US 1915473 (1933); pulverizing the alloy and dissolving out most of the aluminum with NaOH soln: Covert, Adkins, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 54, 4116 (1932); Ruggli, Preiswerk, Helv. Chim. Acta 22, 494 (1939); Mozingo, Org. Synth. 21, 15 (1941). Absorption studies: Kokes, Emmett, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 83, 29 (1961). The residual aluminum, which amounts to several percent, appears to be necessary for proper catalytic activity. Review: J. S. Pizey, Synthetic Reagents vol. 2 (John Wiley, New York, 1974) pp 175-311.
Properties: Grayish-black powder or cubic crystals. Ignites on contact with air. Contains hydrogen and has been attributed the formula Ni2H. Generally stored under alcohol, although ether, water, methylcyclohexane, and dioxane may be used. Raney nickel loses its hydrogen slowly on storage and becomes inactive. Properly prepd and stored it should remain active for 6 months.
Use: Catalyst for the hydrogenation of organic compds with gaseous hydrogen. Usually from 1 to 10% of the substance to be reduced is employed. Is active at room temp and 1 atm pressure, but is also used at high temps and high pressures, see H. B. Adkins, Reactions of Hydrogen (Madison, 1937). |