Electrochemical Dechlorination of Chlorobenzene in Acetonitrile with Various Water Concentrations

Abstract

Electrochemical reduction of chlorobenzene has been studied on a silver polycrystalline electrode in acetonitrile solution containing various concentrations of water. The main product is benzene. The partial current density of benzene j_C6H6 is enhanced with the increase of the concentration of chlorobenzene linearly. The value of j_C6H6 is independent of the concentration of water. This result differs from the electrolysis of chloroform in which the partial current density of the product (methane) is enlarged with the increase of the water concentration remarkably. The electrolysis in acetonitrile containing D₂O shows that the proton source of benzene is acetonitrile as well as water.