Nomenclature
CAS number: 13463-39-3
Nickel tetracarbonyl.
C
4NiO
4; mol wt 170.73.
C 28.14%, Ni 34.38%, O 37.48%.
Ni(CO)
4.
Description and references
Intermediate in nickel refining. Made by passing
carbon monoxide over finely divided nickel: Mond et al., J. Chem. Soc. 57, 749 (1890); Gilliland, Blanchard, Inorg.
Synth. 2, 234 (1946). Use of nickel carbonyl
in organic synthesis: G. Wilke et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 5, 151 (1966);
M. F. Semmelhack in Organic Reactions vol. 19 (Wiley, New York, 1972) p 115; E. J. Corey, H.
A. Kirst, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 94, 667 (1972). Kinetic studies: D. H. Stedman et al., Science 208, 1029
(1980). Toxicity study: Hackett, Sunderman, Arch. Environ. Health 14, 604 (1967). Review: Nicholls in Comprehensive
Inorganic Chemistry vol. 3, J. C. Bailar, Jr. et al., Eds. (Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1973) pp 1115-1119.
Properties
Colorless, volatile liquid. Poisonous; flammable. Oxidizes in the air: explodes
at about 60°. d17 1.318. bp 43°. mp -19.3°. Crit temp
about 200°. Crit pressure about 30 atm. Sol in about 5000 parts
water free from air; sol in alcohol, benzene, chloroform, acetone,
carbon tetrachloride. LD50 in rats (mg/kg): 39 i.p.; 63 s.c.; 66 i.v. (Hackett, Sunderman).Caution
Potential symptoms of overexposure
are headache, vertigo; nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain; substernal
pain; cough, hyperpnea; cyanosis; weakness; leukocytosis; pneumonitis;
delirium; convulsions. See NIOSH
Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140, 1997)
p 222. See also Clinical Toxicology
of Commercial Products, R. E. Gosselin et al., Eds. (Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 5th ed., 1984) Section
II, p. 145. Nickel compounds are listed as known human carcinogens:
Report on Carcinogens, Eleventh Edition (PB2005-104914, 2004) p III-181.Use
In organic synthesis; production of high-purity
nickel powder and continuous nickel coatings on steel and other metals.