I read in a paper:
[...] we prepared the $\ce{PhTeNa}$ in situ from $\ce{(PhTe)2}$ and sodium wire in THF.
Can anyone explain me this procedure (the mechanism) focusing on the definition of "sodium wire"?
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Sign up to join this communityI read in a paper:
[...] we prepared the $\ce{PhTeNa}$ in situ from $\ce{(PhTe)2}$ and sodium wire in THF.
Can anyone explain me this procedure (the mechanism) focusing on the definition of "sodium wire"?
Sodium is normally stored as cubes under petrol or similar solvent. As a metal it is very soft, you can easily cut it with knife. For the reaction you need fresh reactive surface of the metal, so the wire is one of best choices. For lab-scale preparation see e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btvQdW4fXJE