A synthetic chemist's guide to electroanalytical tools for studying reaction mechanisms. Issue 26 (7th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sandford, Christopher; Edwards, Martin A.; Klunder, Kevin J.; Hickey, David P.; Li, Min; Barman, Koushik; Sigman, Matthew S.; White, Henry S.; Minteer, Shelley D.
• Is Part Of: Chemical science. Volume 10:Issue 26(2019)
• Page Start: 6404
• Page End: 6422
• Publication Date: 2019-06-07
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c9sc01545k
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-6520

Abstract

Abstract : A range of electroanalytical tools can be applied to studying redox reactions, probing key mechanistic questions in synthetic chemistry. Abstract : Monitoring reactive intermediates can provide vital information in the study of synthetic reaction mechanisms, enabling the design of new catalysts and methods. Many synthetic transformations are centred on the alteration of oxidation states, but these redox processes frequently pass through intermediates with short life-times, making their study challenging. A variety of electroanalytical tools can be utilised to investigate these redox-active intermediates: from voltammetry to in situ spectroelectrochemistry and scanning electrochemical microscopy. This perspective provides an overview of these tools, with examples of both electrochemically-initiated processes and monitoring redox-active intermediates formed chemically in solution. The article is designed to introduce synthetic organic and organometallic chemists to electroanalytical techniques and their use in probing key mechanistic questions.