[Electrochemical reduction characteristics of nitro-benzene compounds at the copper electrode and the influence of pH on reduction].

The electrochemical reduction characteristics of nitro-benzene compounds were investigated using cyclic voltammetry technique. The reductive reactivity of the nitro-benzene compounds at the copper electrode was evaluated, the reduction mechanisms of the nitrobenzene compounds at the copper electrode and the influences of pH on them were also discussed in this paper. The experimental results show that nitro-benzene compounds is capable of reducing directly at the copper electrode, and the reduction peaks were at - 0.58V and - 1.32V or so (vs. SCE). Both acidity and basicity favor reduction of nitro-group at the copper electrode: the elimination reaction is easy to occur in the alkaline medium with the formation of nitroso-group; in the acid medium the probability of the reaction between the obtained electrons nitro group and hydrogen ions raises, which causes magnification of the current through the solution; in addition, the growth of hydrogen atoms in number favors the occurring of the addition and substitution reactions at the electrode. pH strongly influenced the electrochemical reduction characteristics of the nitrobenzene compounds at the copper electrode, and it mainly depends on the properties of the substituents on the benzene ring, their configurations and numbers, and their location versus nitro group on the benzene ring. The results provide a theoretical and experimental basis for investigating the reduction mechanisms by the catalyzed iron inner electrolysis process.