Iodine(I) compounds are useful reagents for electrophilic iodination. I investigated a new pathway for the preparation of dichloroiodates(I) ([ICl2]-) using electrochemistry. The driving reaction for this conversion is the anodic oxidation of chloride to chlorine. Chlorine then oxidizes iodine in the next step, leading to the formation of [ICl2]-. To this end, I investigated the electrocatalytic properties of iridium nanoparticles and IrO2. The catalysts were compared based on their cyclovoltamograms in the presence of one or both reagents (37% aqueous solution of HCl and I2) in MeCN. Iridium nanoparticles have been proven to be a better electrocatalyst than IrO2, achieving higher currents at lower voltages. In order to determine the potential window in which the anodic oxidation of chloride to chlorine can be performed, I also recorded a HICl2 cyclovoltamogram. This showed further oxidations of HICl2 at potentials higher than 1.2 V while chlorine generation begins at 1 V. Our potential window is thus between 1 - 1.2 V. Iridium nanoparticles have proven to be better, as they have allowed for a greater interval between chlorine generation reaction and further oxidation of the product.
I studied the influence of voltage and rotation speed on HICl2 generation. The voltage had little effect on efficiency. However, the rate of rotation has been shown to have a large influence on the formation of HICl2 and formation practically does not occur below a certain rotation rate. I also looked at the effect of the auxiliary electrolyte on the course of the reaction. I compared tetrabutylammonium perchlorate and LiClO4. The latter proved to be worse as the reaction proceeded more slowly and the faradaic efficiencies were poorer. I then tried to use an electrochemically generated HICl2 solution to perform a iodination reaction with styrene. The reaction did not proceed due to the influence of the auxiliary electrolyte. As a solution to this problem, I performed HICl2 generation in anhydrous HCl / MeOH solution. This system proved to be better than MeCN / auxiliary electrolyte and the reaction with styrene was successful.
I also investigated whether the reagent can be generated in the presence of organic substrates, which would subsequently react to form iodinated products. I compared cyclovoltamograms of organic compounds and selected those that did not react under the chlorine generation potential window (anisole, 1-decane, and styrene). I then performed electrochemical synthesis of HICl2 by use of chronoamperometry and analysed the resulting solutions. Anisole was insufficiently activated for iodination, 1-decane and styrene however were successfully iodinated.
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