Pd/C-catalyzed dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls under hydrogen gas-free conditions

[Display omitted] ► PCBs were completely decomposed at room temperature under H2 gas-free conditions. ► 10% Pd/C, Mg, and MeOH are only required. ► Aroclors 1242, 1248, 1254 and used PCBs are applicable to the degradation method. ► A single electron transfer from Pd0 species to the aromatic ring would be involved. The simultaneous use of catalytic amount of palladium on carbon (Pd/C) and Mg metal (1.5–2.0 equiv vs. Cl numbers of the substrates) in MeOH achieved the complete dechlorination of a variety of aryl chlorides at room temperature under a nitrogen atmosphere in the absence of hydrogen gas. The present method could be successfully used for the detoxification of PCBs based on the dechlorinaton reaction. Both virgin PCBs, such as Aroclors 1242, 1248 and 1254, and used PCBs as a high-tension capacitor oil, were smoothly dechlorinated into harmless biphenyl without any byproducts within 2h at rt. The distinctive features of this method are convenience and safety due to no needs for the pretreatment of catalyst and Mg and complete degradation of PCBs under mild conditions without hydrogen gas.