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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: tulip11 on October 19, 2017, 07:58:41 AM

Title: Intercalation reaction with Vanadium
Post by: tulip11 on October 19, 2017, 07:58:41 AM

I'm studying 2 intercalation reactions of V₂O₅. In the first one V₂O₅ was mixed with hexane and nbutyl lithium and a colour change of orange to dark green was seen. For this reaction i think the equation is

V₂O₅ + xBuLi -> Li_xV₂O₅ + x/2C₈H₁₈. (please do say if thats incorrect)

I also think the structure of vanadium pentoxide is a layered structure so 2D intercalation would occur.
The next reaction is to mix V₂O₅ + LiI.H₂O in dichloromethane. The colour change is the same for the solid (orange to dark green) and the solvent goes from colourless to pink. From this i figure that the same complex as above must be made as the colour is the same. However i am a little confused as to how the reactions differ and if someone could explain the difference in the reactions that would be very much appreciated.

Title: Re: Intercalation reaction with Vanadium
Post by: mjc123 on October 19, 2017, 12:34:10 PM

The pink colour in DCM suggests the formation of I₂, which suggests a reaction analogous to that with BuLi.