Dennis G. Peters

Cyclic voltammetry and controlled‐potential (bulk) electrolysis have been used to explore the electrochemical reduction of o‐nitrobenzaldehyde (o‐NBA) and 8 other aldehydes and ketones at glassy carbon cathodes in dimethylformamide containing various tetraalkylammonium tetrafluoroborate salts along with a proton donor (4‐chlorophenol). Cyclic voltammograms for reduction of o‐NBA exhibit three cathodic peaks attributable in succession to (a) one‐electron generation of the nitro radical‐anion, (b) three‐electron formation of the hydroxylamine, and (c) two‐electron production of benzisoxazole (anthranil). These findings have been employed to develop efficient controlled‐potential (bulk) electrosyntheses of the following compounds: benzisoxazole, methylbenzo[c]isoxazole, [1,3]dioxolo[4′,5′,4,5]benzo[1,2‐c]isoxazole, naphtho[2,3‐c]isoxazole, 6‐chlorobenzo[c]isoxazole, 6‐methoxybenzo[c]isoxazole, 3‐methyl‐benzo[c]isoxazole, 3‐isopropylbenzo[c]isoxazole, and 3‐phenylbenzo[c]isoxazole. In addition, we have examined the use of a variety of proton donors to optimize the production of the desired product, and we have been able to recover the proton donor at the conclusion of the electrosynthesis. In each case, the synthesized product was separated by means of normal phase chromatography and identified with the aid of NMR spectros‐copy, gas chromatography (GC), and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). Isolated yields of the desired products range from 63 to 92 %. Moreover, our electrosyntheses are catalyst‐free, environmentally green, and rapid (∼30 min).

Cyclic voltammetry and controlled‐potential (bulk) electrolysis have been used to study the direct electrochemical reduction of cyclohexyl bromide (1) and cyclohexyl iodide (2) at glassy carbon cathodes in dimethylformamide (DMF) containing 0.10 M tetramethylammonium tetrafluoroborate (TMABF₄). Direct reduction of 1 is a one‐step process that affords a carbanion intermediate, whereas 2 undergoes stepwise reduction to a radical and then a carbanion intermediate. Mixtures of cyclohexane, cyclohexene, and bicyclohexyl arise from bulk electrolyses of both 1 and 2. Catalytic reduction of 1 and 2 by nickel(I) salen and cobalt(I) salen electrogenerated at glassy carbon cathodes in DMF‐TMABF₄ has been investigated with the aid of both cyclic voltammetry and bulk electrolysis. Products arising from these catalytic reductions are cyclohexane, cyclohexene, and bicyclohexyl, although significant amounts of unreduced 1 are found when cobalt(I) salen is utilized as the catalyst. Mechanistic aspects of the direct and catalyzed reductions of 1 and 2 are discussed.

Humic acid (HA) is thought to promote NO₂ conversion to nitrous acid (HONO) on soil surfaces during the day. However, it has proven difficult to identify the reactive sites in natural HA substrates. The mechanism of NO₂ reduction on soil surrogates composed of HA and clay minerals was studied by use of a coated-wall flow reactor and cavity-enhanced spectroscopy. Conversion of NO₂ to HONO in the dark was found to be significant and correlated to the abundance of C–O moieties in HA determined from the X-ray photoelectron spectra of the C 1s region. Twice as much HONO was formed when NO₂ reacted with HA that was photoreduced by irradiation with UV–visible light compared to the dark reaction; photochemical reactivity was correlated to the abundance of C═O moieties rather than C–O groups. Bulk electrolysis was used to generate HA in a defined reduction state. Electrochemically reduced HA enhanced NO₂-to-HONO conversion by a factor of 2 relative to non-reduced HA. Our findings suggest that hydroquinones and benzoquinones, which are interchangeable via redox equilibria, contribute to both thermal and photochemical HONO formation. This conclusion is supported by experiments that studied NO₂ reactivity on mineral surfaces coated with the model quinone, juglone. Results provide further evidence that redox-active sites on soil surfaces drive ground-level NO₂-to-nitrite conversion in the atmospheric boundary layer throughout the day, while amphoteric mineral surfaces promote the release of nitrite formed as gaseous HONO.

Several nickel(II) complexes of cyclams bearing aryl groups on the carbon backbone were prepared and evaluated for their propensity to catalyze the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to CO and/or H⁺ to H₂, representing the first catalytic analysis to be performed on an aryl–cyclam metal complex. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) revealed the attenuation of catalytic activity when the aryl group bears the strong electron-withdrawing trifluoromethyl substituent, whereas the phenyl, p-tolyl, and aryl-free derivatives displayed a range of catalytic activities. The gaseous-product distribution for the active complexes was determined by means of controlled-potential electrolysis (CPE) and revealed that the phenyl derivative is the most active as well as the most selective for CO₂ reduction over proton reduction. Stark differences in the activity of the complexes studied are rationalized through comparison of their X-ray structures, absorption spectra, and CPE profiles. Further CV studies on the phenyl derivative were undertaken to provide a kinetic insight.

Owing to their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity, grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) are the archetypal paradigms of fruits used not only for nutritional purposes, but also for exclusive therapeutics. Grapes are a prominent and promising source of phytochemicals, especially resveratrol, a phytoalexin antioxidant found in red grapes which has both chemopreventive and therapeutic effects against various ailments. Resveratrol's role in reducing different human cancers, including breast, cervical, uterine, blood, kidney, liver, eye, bladder, thyroid, esophageal, prostate, brain, lung, skin, gastric, colon, head and neck, bone, ovarian, and cervical, has been reviewed. This review covers the literature that deals with the anti-cancer mechanism of resveratrol with special reference to antioxidant potential. Furthermore, this article summarizes the literature pertaining to resveratrol as an anti-cancer agent.

Electrochemical reduction of halogenated organic compounds is gaining increasing attention as a strategy for the remediation of environmental pollutants. We begin this review by discussing key components (cells, electrodes, solvents, and electrolytes) in the design of a procedure for degrading a targeted pollutant, and we describe and contrast some experimental techniques used to explore and characterize the electrochemical behavior of that pollutant. Then, we describe how to probe various mechanistic features of the pertinent electrochemistry (including stepwise versus concerted carbon–halogen bond cleavage, identification of reaction intermediates, and elucidation of mechanisms). Knowing this information is vital to the successful development of a remediation procedure. Next, we outline techniques, instrumentation, and cell designs involved in scaling up a benchtop experiment to an industrial-scale system. Finally, the last and major part of this review is directed toward surveying electrochemical studies of various categories of halogenated pollutants (chlorofluorocarbons; disinfection byproducts; pesticides, fungicides, and bactericides; and flame retardants) and looking forward to future developments.

Electrochemical reduction of primary (1‐halodecane), secondary (2‐halohexane and cyclohexyl halide), and tertiary halides (tert‐butyl halide) at a silver cathode in dimethylformamide (DMF) containing 0.050 M tetramethylammonium perchlorate (TMAP) was investigated with the aid of cyclic voltammetry and controlled‐potential (bulk) electrolysis for iodides, bromides, and chlorides. Selected reductions were probed in dried DMF–TMAP and DMF containing tetra‐n‐hexylammonium perchlorate (THAP). Cyclic voltammograms reveal that the number of cathodic peaks and their potentials are highly dependent on the identity and position of the halogen as well as the composition of the solvent–electrolyte. Intermediates arising from bulk electrolysis of these halides at silver undergo both radical and carbanion reactions. Electrolysis products depend on the identity and position of the halogen, amount of residual water, and size of the electrolyte cation in the solvent–electrolyte. Theoretical calculations of molecular dipole moments and polarizabilities were performed and compared to experimental observations.