Reactions of Atomic Carbon with Water.
Abstract
Atomic carbon reacts with water to produce formaldehyde via a carbene intermediate, hydroxymethylene. Hydroxymethylene further reacts with formaldehyde to produce glycoaldehyde via a five-center-six-electron transition state, and subsequently with the glycoaldehyde to produce glyceraldehyde. Theoretically, four, five and six carbon sugars should be produced in the reactions of water vapor with carbon vapor generated by a high intensity arc. Therefore, the reactions of arc generated atomic carbon and water were performed with the goal of determining which four, and six carbon aldose sugars were produced. In addition to hlycoaldehyde and glyceraldehyde, the four carbon aldoses erythrose and threose were produced in measurable quantities. The five carbon aldoses arabinose, lyxose, and xylose were produced in trace amounts. Because formaldehyde is the product of rearrangement of hydroxymethlene and a potential rate determining step in the production of higher order sugars the reactions of atomic carbon with water and formaldehyde were performed. Should the reaction of carbon with water proceed via a hydroxymethylene intermediate there should be an increase in the yield of four, five, and six carbon sugars. Reactions of atomic carbon with deuterium oxide, and formaldehyde plus deuterium oxide were performed as a verification of the proposed mechanism. The mechanism of hydroxymethylene addition to aldose sugars was discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 27, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA176226
Entities
People
- Glenn Flanagan
Organizations
- Auburn University