Method of preparing aluminum organoiodides

Abstract

An aluminum .[.iodide.]. .Iadd.organoiodide .Iaddend.is prepared by .[.first forming a reactive aluminum and then.]. contacting .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.reactive aluminum with iodine and a liquid organic compound. The reactive aluminum is formed by permeating in the presence of hydrogen ions highly pure aluminum with a metal having an atomic volume close to that of hydrogen. Aluminum organoiodides are useful for detergents, catalysts, surgical scrubs, and other diverse applications.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of forming an aluminum organoiodide comprising the steps of forming a reactive aluminum by permeating highly pure aluminum in the presence of a hydrogen ion source with another metal having an atomic volume close to that of hydrogen, and subsequently, reacting the reactive aluminum with a combination of iodine and an organic compound selected from the group consisting of .[.alcohol, ketone, aldehyde, phenol, glycol, and carboxylic acids.]. .Iadd.an alcohol, a ketone, an aldehyde and a carboxylic acid .Iaddend.whereby said aluminum organoiodide is formed. .[.2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said aluminum has a purity of at least about 99.99 percent by weight and said hydrogen ion source is an aqueous acid or an aqueous alkaline solution..].  .[.3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said other metal is selected from the group consisting of mercury, indium, and gallium..].  .[.4. The method as 
     
     
        claimed in claim 3, wherein a fatty carboxylic acid is selected..]. 5. The method as claimed in claim .[.3.]. .Iadd.14.Iaddend., wherein said alcohol is selected from the group consisting of ethyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, furfuryl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, .[.and.]. butyl alcohol, .Iadd.cyclohexanol, ethenol, ethanolamine, ethylene glycol, glycerol, 
     
     
        phenol and sorbitol. .Iaddend. 6. The method as claimed in claim .[.3.]. .Iadd.15.Iaddend., wherein said ketone is selected from the group consisting of dimethyl ketone, ethyl methyl ketone, and ethyl iso-propyl 
     
     
        ketone. 7. The method as claimed in claim .[.3.]. .Iadd.16.Iaddend., wherein said aldehyde is selected from the group consisting of 
     
     
        formaldehyde, acetaldehyde; and butyraldehyde. 8. The method as claimed in claim .[.3.]. .Iadd.17.Iaddend., wherein said carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of linoleic, lauric, formic, lactic, acrylic, 
     
     
        and myristic acids. 9. The method as claimed in claim .[.3.]. .Iadd.5.Iaddend., wherein said alcohol is .[.glycerine.]. .Iadd.glycerol. .Iaddend. .[.10. A method of forming an aluminum organoiodide comprising the steps of forming a reactive aluminum by permeating aluminum 99.99 percent pure by weight in the presence of an aqueous acid with a metal selected from the group consisting of mercury, indium, and gallium, and subsequently reacting the reactive aluminum with a combination of iodine and an organic compound selected from the group consisting of ethanolamine, butane, methane, and sorbitol..].  .Iadd. 11. A method of preparing an aluminum organoiodide which comprises: contacting and reacting: (a) a reactive aluminum comprising highly pure aluminum permeated with a metal selected from the group consisting of mercury, indium, gallium, and indium/gallium alloys;   (b) iodine, and   (c) a liquid organic compound selected from (i) an alcohol;   (ii) a ketone;   (iii) a carboxylic acid, and   (iv) an aldehyde, whereby the aluminum of said reactive aluminum reacts with said iodine and organic compound to form the desired aluminum organoiodide,       and separating the desired aluminum organoiodide. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 12. The method of claim 11 wherein said reactive aluminum comprises highly pure aluminum permeated with from 0.1 percent to 5.0 percent by weight of said permeated metal. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. The method of claim 11 wherein said highly pure aluminum has a purity of at least about 99.99 percent by weight. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. The method of claim 11 wherein said organic compound is an alcohol. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. The method of claim 11 wherein said organic compound is a ketone. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. The method of claim 11 wherein said organic compound is an aldehyde. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. The method of claim 11 wherein said organic compound is a carboxylic acid. .Iaddend..Iadd. 18. The method of claim 17 wherein said carboxylic acid is a fatty acid. .Iaddend..Iadd. 19. The method of claim 11 wherein said organic compound is a combination of an alcohol and a carboxylic acid. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20. A method of preparing an aluminum organoiodide which comprises:   contacting and reacting (a) a reactive aluminum comprising highly pure aluminum permeated with a metal selected from the group consisting of mercury, indium, gallium and indium/gallium alloys;   (b) iodine vapor; and   (c) methane or butane, whereby said aluminum of said reactive aluminum reacts with said iodine and methane or butane;     and separating the desired aluminum organoiodide. .Iaddend.