Metals Intercalated in Graphite. I. Reduction and Oxidation

Abstract

Potassium in graphite shows distinctive reducing properties towards carbonyls. The reaction products can be related to a mechanism similar to electrochemical reduction. The steric orientation of the reduction can be explained by the particular structure of potassium–graphite.Chromic anhydride in graphite offers a new selective method of preparation of aldehydes from the corre sponding primary alcohol. This method is characterized by its specificity, high yields and a simple experimental procedure.