Electrode reduction mechanism of aromatic nitriles in aprotic solvents: Benzonitrile

The electrode reaction mechanism of benzonitrile in anhydrous DMF has been studied by polarography, potential sweep voltammetry, macroscale electrolysis, e.p.r. spectrometry and kinetic analysis. The relatively stable radical anion formed by one-electron addition decays according to a first order kinetic law, with formation of benzene and CN^? as final products together with substantial amounts of the alkene and alkylamine corresponding to the tetraalkylammonium salt used as background electrolyte. The results are interpreted in terms of a mechanism involving protonation of the anion radical by the solvent and the back-ground electrolyte, followed by dismutation of the resulting neutral radical with the anion radical and elimination of CN^? ions from the anionic species thus formed. By phenol addition CN^? elimination is prevented and the reduction proceeds to 1-cyclohexene-1-nitrile or to cyclohexane-nitrile, depending on the reduction potential.