Eugene Lieber

The Uses of Raney Nickel

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the versatility of Raney nickel by citing the many uses to which, it can be put over and above the simple addition of hydrogen to an unsaturated function. Raney nickel is probably the most commonly used nickel catalyst. It is also the most versatile of catalysts. In one or other of its several modifications it has been used for hydrogenations over a wide range of pressures varying from high to subatmospheric, for desulfuration, for dehalogenation, and for many other reactions. Raney nickel catalyst contains hydrogen, most of which is probably bound by van der Waals forces. A good part of the hydrogen can be removed by heating. After prolonged heating of the catalyst at a temperature of 95°, some hydrogen is still held by the catalyst. Unlike ordinary nickel, Raney nickel can form an amalgam. This property can be attributed to the hydrogen, which acts as a third component.