An Analysis of Anion-Specific Effects on the Standard Potential Shifts of 9-Fluorenone in Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids with a Silver Electrode as a Cathode Material

This study aims to show the interesting possibilities offered by the use of electrochemical techniques in several ionic liquids by establishing the potential use of silver electrodes in reduction processes. A range of fundamental electrochemical studies are described based on the determination of the diffusion coefficients, the standard potential shifts, and solvation effects for the electrochemical reduction of 9-fluorenone by several room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). The RTILs are composed of an unsymmetrical organic cation (1-butyl or 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium) and a range of inorganic anions. The catalytic properties of RTILs combined with a silver working electrode mean that this system could be a good starting point for establishing the design of new, more environmentally friendly and efficient electrosynthetic routes, as well as fluorenone-based devices.