NMR Study of the Reductive Decomposition of [BMIm][NTf2] at Gold Electrodes and Indirect Electrochemical Conversion of CO2

Potential controlled electrolyses of [BMIm][NTf2] ionic liquid were performed at a gold cathode under nitrogen atmosphere. The structures of the major conversion products of the BMIm+ cation were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses and gas chromatography (GC) analysis of the volatile compounds. Recombination of the imidazol-2-yl radicals, generated at the electrode by single electron transfer, leads to neutral diastereomeric dimers in equal proportions, with a faradaic efficiency of 80 %, while disproportionation of these radicals and/or reaction with hydrogen atoms adsorbed at the electrode generates a neutral monomer with 20 % faradaic efficiency. Both pathways also yield the N-heterocyclic carbene imidazolin-2-ylidene, which is involved in fast proton exchange with the parent BMIm+ cation. The reductive decomposition products of the BMIm+ cation are no longer detected if the pre-electrolysed sample is reacted with CO2, which undergoes an indirect reduction and generates the carboxylate adduct.SCOPUS: ar.j