Homogeneous electro-mediated reduction of unsaturated compounds using Ni and Fe as mediators in DMF

The homogeneous electro-mediated reduction (HEMR) of several organic compounds (cyclohexene, cyclohexanone, acetophenone, benzaldehyde, styrene, linalool, 1,3-cyclohexadiene, citral, trans-4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one, and piperine) was carried out using Fe²⁺, Ni²⁺, and [Ni^II(bpy)]Br₂ (bpy=2,2′-bipyridine) as electron mediators. An electrochemical system composed of sacrificial anode (Fe, Ni or Zn), nickel cathode, NaI (0.2 M) as supporting electrolyte in DMF and an undivided cell, was used. A constant current ≤100 mA was applied with a maximum cell potential of 2.0 V. Non-conjugated olefins are not reactive, but ketones may be easily reduced to the respective alcohol. In the case of conjugated olefins and ketones, [Ni^II(bpy)]Br₂ or Ni²⁺ mediator presented good reactivity and selectivity in most cases. Fe²⁺ more efficiently mediates the reduction of carbonyl containing systems. Preliminary electroanalytical studies indicate the complexation of the organic substrate by Fe²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions and [Ni^II(bpy)]Br₂ complex.