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.
Wang
An
A
State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China.
Huang
Yi-Fan
YF
Sur
Ujjal Kumar
UK
Wu
De-Yin
DY
Ren
Bin
B
Rondinini
Sandra
S
Amatore
Christian
C
Tian
Zhong-Qun
ZQ
D001593:Benzyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D004566:Electrodes; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman
D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D012834:Silver; C021292:benzyl chloride