ELECTROCHEMICAL REDUCTION OF BENZIL IN STRONGLY ACID AND ALKALINE MEDIA

The electrochemical reduction of benzil to benzoin, was studied in strongly acid and alkaline media, at DME. In basic media the electron transfer reaction is reversible, so convolution potential step voltammetry (CPSV) was applied to determine kinetic constants corresponding to the ketolization reaction undergone by the stilbenediol. In acid media, CPSV was applied to determine the charge transfer rate constant and deconvoluted differential pulse voltammetry to follow the ketolization reaction after a given electrolysis period. Results seem to indicate that not all the stilbenediol gives benzoin. No significant evidence about catalytic effects in the enol-keto reaction was found.