Direct observation of extremely low temperature catalytic dehydrochlorination of 1,1,1-trichloroethane over platinum

Fast X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals that the efficient catalytic destruction of 1,1,1-trichloroethane occurs over Pt{111} surfaces at temperatures as low as 150 K. Decomposition occurs via rapid, sequential C-Cl bond scission to form an alkylidyne surface intermediate that in turn dehydrogenates above room temperature. Atomic chlorine liberated during dehydrochlorination undergoes efficient reaction with surface hydrogen, resulting in the evolution of gaseous HCl and small amounts of ethane, presumably via ethylidyne hydrogenation. Irreversible dehydrogenation of residual hydrocarbon fragments results in significant surface coking above 500 K.