Alkali metals plus silica gel: powerful reducing agents and convenient hydrogen sources.

Alkali metals absorbed into silica gel yield three stages of unique loose black powders (M-SG) that are strong reducing agents. All react nearly quantitatively with water to form hydrogen. Liquid Na-K alloys form air-sensitive powders at room temperature that can be converted at 150 degrees C to a form that is sensitive to moisture but not to dry air. Slowly heating sodium and silica gel to 400 degrees C yields a third type that can be handled in ambient air with only slow degradation by atmospheric moisture. These materials eliminate many hazards associated with pure alkali metals and provide easily handled reducing agents and hydrogen sources. They could be used in continuous-flow reactors to reduce and protonate aromatics, dechlorinate alkyl and aryl halides, and desulfurize various compounds.