The electrocatalytic performance of silver in the reductive dehalogenationof bromophenols

The remarkable electrocatalytic properties of silver for organic halide red uction have been applied to obtain quantitative direct dehalogenation of mo no and polyphenols in acetonitrile and in water/acetonitrile 1:1 mixed solv ent. Structure effects on the reaction pathways observed by electrolysis mo nitoring are discussed with the support elf systematic cyclovoltammetric ex periments on silver, mercury, and glassy carbon. The process. environmental ly friendly as based on a nontoxic electrocatalytic material, also appears highly competitive on account of its mildness of operating conditions selec tivity, and current efficiency. (C) 2001 The Eleutrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.1379032] All rights reserved.