Electrocatalytic hydrogenation of organic compounds on carbon electrodes modified by poly(pyrrole-bis[2,2′-bipyridyl] palladium(II) complex) films

Abstract

The electrochemical behaviour of the bis[2,2′-bipyridyl] palladium(II) complex in CH 3CN is described. The reduction of this complex is characterized by a one-electron transfer followed by a reversible chemical step and a second irreversible one-electron transfer. Carbon felt electrodes have been modified by electropolymerization of a pyrrole-substituted bis[2,2′-bipyridyl] palladium(II) complex giving a molecular electrode material useful for electrocatalytic hydrogenation of organic compounds. On these cathodes, the activated carbon-carbon double bond of a series of enones are hydrogenated in preference to the carbonyl group. The influence of the complex loadings and the initial amount of substrate has also been investigated.