Effect of proton donors on the mechanism of electroreduction of α-radicals of linear and cyclic ethers

Abstract

Using laser photoemission, we found two routes of the electroreduction of α-radicals (R_ads) adsorbed on a mercury electrode for linear and cyclic ethers in the presence of strong proton donors (BH⁺), i.e., by direct one-electron transfer and with the antecedent formation of the metastable complex [R_ads·BH⁺].