Photolysis and Thermolysis of Pyridyl Carbonyl Azide Monolayers on Single-Crystal Platinum

The photochemical and thermal reactivity of a number of acyl azide‐substituted pyridine compounds, namely nicotinyl azide, isonicotinyl azide, picolinyl azide and dinicotinyl azide with investigated as saturated monolayers on a single‐crystal Pt(111) surface in an ultrahigh vacuum chamber. Multilayers of the substrates exhibited a maximum rate of desorption at 270 K, above which, stable saturated monolayers formed as characterized by reflection‐absorption infrared spectroscopy by observation of C=O and N3 bands at 1700 cm−1, and 2100 and 1300 cm−1 respectively. The monolayers were stable up to 400 K. Photolysis of the monolayer (or heating above 400 K) results in the formation of the respective isocyanate intermediate after loss of nitrogen as evidenced by the appearance of a new infrared band at 2260 cm−1 with concomitant loss of the azide bands. The resulting isocyanate saturated monolayer is stable in absence of nucleophiles, but can be quenched with appropriate nucleophiles. Saturated monolayers of a number of acyl azide‐substituted pyridine compounds, namely nicotinyl azide, isonicotinyl azide, picolinyl azide and dinicotinyl azide, were formed on single‐crystal Pt(111) surfaces in a UHV chamber. These monolayers were characterized by RAIR and thermal programmed desorption. Photolysis or thermolysis of these saturated monolayers leads to the corresponding isocyanate via a Curtius rearrangement.