CHEMISTRY OF [RU3O2(NH3)14]CL6 (RUTHENIUM RED) INTERCALATED IN A SMECTITE CLAY - THERMAL-BEHAVIOR, REACTIVITY WITH CO AND CO/H2, CATALYTIC ACTIVITY

The trimeric ruthenium amino cation ruthenium red was readily and quantitatively exchanged in a sodium bentonite. The multiply-charged ruthenium ions act as crosslinking molecular rods and induce a clay layer separation of almost-equal-to 5 angstrom. The chemical modification of the intercalated species by thermal treatment was studied by IR and UV spectroscopy. The modification of the clay spacing was monitored by X-ray diffraction and surface area measurements. The catalytic activity of the clay for the vapour phase CO hydrogenation and hydroformylation of ethylene and propene was tested in a flow reactor at atmospheric pressure.