Electroreduction of carbonyl compounds at a Ti/ceramic TiO2 cathode

The use of Ti/ceramic TiO 2 cathode as an effective cathode material for the reduction of two ketones—cyclohexanone and benzalacetone (BA) are highlighted. Galvanostatic reduction of these ketones gave exclusively cyclohexanol and benzyl acetone (4-phenyl 2-butanone) as the corresponding hydrogenated products, as characterized from their boiling points and nmr spectra. Higher product yields were observed as compared to the reduction of the ketones at conventional cathode materials like lead under identical experimental conditions. Best conditions for the formation of products have been identified based on current density, temperature and acid strength. Cyclic voltammetry indicates a mechanism involving heterogeneous redox catalysis involving the surface fixed redox groups Ti 4+ /Ti 3+ . The reaction can be conveniently scaled up.