Reduction Of Benzyl Chloride Research Articles

Bridging the Gap between Electrochemical and Organometallic Activation: Benzyl Chloride Reduction at Silver Cathodes

Integration of voltammetry, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), and density functional theory (DFT) has allowed unraveling the mechanistic origin of the exceptional electrocatalytic properties of silver cathodes during the reduction of benzyl chloride. At inert electrodes the initial reduction proceeds through a concerted direct electron transfer yielding a benzyl radical as the first intermediate. Conversely, at silver electrodes it involves an uphill preadsorption of benzyl chloride onto the silver cathode. Reduction of this adduct affords a species tentatively described as a distorted benzyl radical anion stabilized by the silver surface. This transient species rapidly evolves to yield ultimately a benzyl radical bound onto the silver surface, the latter being reduced into a benzyl-silver anionic adduct which eventually dissociates into a free benzyl anion at more negative potentials. Within this framework, the exceptional electrocatalytic properties of silver cathodes stem from the fact that they drastically modify the mechanism of the 2e-reduction pathway through a direct consequence of the electrophilicity of silver cathode surfaces toward organic halides. This mechanism contrasts drastically with any of those tentatively invoked previously, and bridges classical electroreduction mechanisms and oxidative additions similar to those occurring during organometallic homogeneous activation of organic halides by low-valent transition-metal complexes.

In Situ Identification of Intermediates of Benzyl Chloride Reduction at a Silver Electrode by SERS Coupled with DFT Calculations

Aiming to deeply understand the electrocatalytic mechanism of silver on reduction of benzyl chloride, we carried out an in situ electrochemical surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic study to characterize various surface species in different electrode potential regions. A further analysis with DFT calculation reveals that the benzyl radical and its anionic derivate bonded on a silver electrode are the key intermediates, implying that the pathway could drastically differ from the outer sphere concerted electron reduction at inert electrodes.

Electrocatalytic Carboxylation of Benzyl Chloride at Silver Cathode in Ionic Liquid BMIMBF4

AbstractThe feasibility of electrocarboxylation of benzyl chloride has been investigated at silver cathode in CO2‐saturated room‐temperature ionic liquid 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIMBF4) solution for the first time. The electrochemical behavior was studied at different electrodes by cyclic voltammetry, which showed significant electrocatalytic effect of the silver electrode on the reduction of benzyl chloride. The highest yield of 45% of phenylacetic acid was obtained under optimal conditions. The recovered ionic liquid was reused for four times with gradual decrease in the yield of phenylacetic acid.

Synthesis, characterization and electrocatalytic activity of silver nanorods towards the reduction of benzyl chloride

This paper describes a simple method of synthesizing silver nanorods using the polyol process, where propylene glycol serves both as a reducing agent and as a solvent in the presence of a capping reagent such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The diameter and length of silver nanorods could be controlled by changing the AgNO3/PVP ratio. The end-to-end assembly of the silver nanorods was found. The silver nanorods were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and absorption spectroscopy. The catalytic activity of a glassy carbon electrode with Ag nanorods exhibits extraordinary electrocatalytic activities towards the electro-reduction of benzyl chloride.

VALIDATED METHODS FOR DEGRADING HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS: SOME HALOGENATED COMPOUNDS

Two techniques were investigated for degrading a number of halogenated compounds of commercial and research importance. Reductive dehalogenation with nickel-aluminum alloy in potassium hydroxide solution was used to degrade iodomethane, chloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, 2-chloroethanol, 2-bromoethanol, 2-chloroethylamine, 2-bromoethylamine, 1-bromobutane, 1-iodobutane, 2-bromobutane, 2-iodobutane, 2-bromo-2-methylpropane, 2-iodo-2-methylpropane, 3-chloropyridine, fluorobenzene, chlorobenzene, bromobenzene, iodobenzene, 4-fluoroaniline, 2-chloroaniline, 3-chloroaniline, 4-chloroaniline, 4-fluoronitrobenzene, 2-chloronitrobenzene, 3-chloronitrobenzene, 4-chloronitrobenzene, benzyl chloride, benzyl bromide, alpha,alpha-dichlorotoluene, and 3-aminobenzotrifluoride. The products were generally those obtained by replacing the halogen with hydrogen although concomitant reduction of the other groups was also observed. Bibenzyl was produced during the reduction of benzyl chloride, benzyl bromide, and alpha,alpha-dichlorotoluene. Refluxing with ethanolic potassium hydroxide was used to degrade iodomethane, chloroacetic acid, 2-fluoroethanol, 2-chloroethanol, 2-bromoethanol, 1-chlorobutane, 1-bromobutane, 1-iodobutane, 2-bromobutane, 2-iodobutane, 2-bromo-2-methylpropane, 2-iodo-2-methylpropane, benzyl chloride, benzyl bromide, 1-bromononane, 1-chlorodecane, and 1-bromodecane. The products were the corresponding ethyl ethers. 2-Methylaziridine was cleaved with nickel-aluminum alloy in potassium hydroxide solution to a mixture of isopropylamine and n-propylamine. In all cases, the compounds were completely degraded and only nonmutagenic reaction mixtures were produced.

Validated Methods for Degrading Hazardous Chemicals: Some Halogenated Compounds

Two techniques were investigated for degrading a number of halogenated compounds of commercial and research importance. Reductive dehalogenation with nickel-aluminum alloy in potassium hydroxide solution was used to degrade iodomethane, chloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, 2-chloroethanol, 2-bromoethanol, 2-chloroethylamine, 2-bromoethylamine, 1-bromobutane, 1-iodobutane, 2-bromobutane, 2-iodobutane, 2-bromo-2-methylpropane, 2-iodo-2-methylpropane, 3-chloropyridine, fluorobenzene, chlorobenzene, bromobenzene, iodobenzene, 4-fluoroaniline, 2-chloroaniline, 3-chloroaniline, 4-chloroaniline, 4-fluoronitrobenzene, 2-chloronitrobenzene, 3-chloronitrobenzene, 4-chloronitrobenzene, benzyl chloride, benzyl bromide, α,α-dichlorotoluene, and 3-aminobenzotrifluoride. The products were generally those obtained by replacing the halogen with hydrogen although concomitant reduction of the other groups was also observed. Bibenzyl was produced during the reduction of benzyl chloride, benzyl bromide, and α,α-dichlorotoluene. Refluxing with ethanolic potassium hydroxide was used to degrade iodomethane, chloroacetic acid, 2-fluoroethanol, 2-chloroethanol, 2-bromoethanol, 1-chlorobutane, 1-bromobutane, 1-iodobutane, 2-brontobutane, 2-iodobutane, 2-bromo-2-methylpropane, 2-iodo-2-methylpropane, benzyl chloride, benzyl bromide, 1-bromononane, 1-chlorodecane, and 1-bromodecane. The products were the corresponding ethyl ethers. 2-Methylaziridine was cleaved with nickel-aluminum alloy in potassium hydroxide solution to a mixture of isopropylamine and n-propylanzine. In all cases, the compounds were completely degraded and only nonmutagenic reaction mixtures were produced.

Carbanion and Radical Intermediacy in the Electrochemical Reduction of Benzyl Halides in Acetonitrile

The electrochemical reduction of benzyl iodide, benzyl bromide, and benzyl chloride was studied in acetonitrile on platinum and glassy carbon electrodes. The reductions of benzyl chloride, benzyl bromide, and benzyl iodide all occur as a single wave at , respectively, on freshly polished platinum and at , respectively, on glassy carbon. Chronoamperometric and coulometric measurements indicate an overall electron stoichiometry of unity for the wave. Controlled‐potential electrolysis of benzyl iodide at potentials sufficiently negative (−1.7V) to form the benzyl anion results in the formation of significant yields of hydrocinnamonitrile (40%) in addition to toluene. Reduction of benzyl iodide in the presence of either diethyl malonate or carbon dioxide at −1.7V produces >40% yields of the diethyl ester of benzyl malonate and benzyl phenylacetate, respectively. Reduction of benzyl iodide at −1.8V in results in 97% deuterium incorporation in major‐product toluene, whereas reduction in the presence of produces less than 10% toluene‐d1. Reduction of benzyl iodide at potentials where significant reduction of the benzyl radical to the anion does not occur (positive of −1.5V) produces only toluene and bibenzyl as the major products.