Thermal reactions of 2-iodoethanol on Cu(1 0 0)

Temperature-programmed reaction/desorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy have been employed to investigate the reactions of ICH₂CH₂OH on Cu(1 0 0) under ultrahigh-vacuum conditions. ICH₂CH₂OH can dissociate on Cu(1 0 0) at 100 K, forming a -CH₂CH₂OH surface intermediate. Density functional theory calculations predict that the -CH₂CH₂OH is most probably adsorbed on atop site. -CH₂CH₂OH on Cu(1 0 0) further decomposes to yield C₂H₄ below 270 K. No evidence shows the formation of -CH₂CH₂O- intermediate in the reactions of ICH₂CH₂OH on Cu(1 0 0) in contrast to the decomposition of BrCH₂CH₂OH on Cu(1 0 0) and ICH₂CH₂OH on Ag(1 1 1) and Ag(1 1 0), exhibiting the effects of carbon-halogen bonds and metal surfaces.