Electrochemical reduction of nitrobenzene in ionic liquid BMImAc

Ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate(BMImAc), was used in the electrochemical reduction of nitrobenzene. The electro-reduction of nitrobenzene on platinum electrode was studied by cyclic voltammetry(CV), in situ Fourier transform infrared(FTIR) spectroscopy and constant-potential electrolysis. The experimental results show that electrochemical reduction process of nitrobenzene was controlled by diffusion, the main reduction product was azobenzen at −1.45 V, and the influences of scan rate and temperature on the electrochemical behaviors were obviously. A reduction mechanism of nitrobenzene in an ionic liquid was a probable ‘nitrobenzene→nitroso-benzene→azobenzene→aniline’ main reductive reaction route.