Electrochemically relevant physical–chemical properties of tetraalkylammonium salts solutions in the renewable solvent dihydrolevoglucosenone (Cyrene®); electrochemical behaviour of some representative organic molecules

Abstract

Currently, organic electrosynthesis (OES) represents an environmentally friendly methodology that avoids the use of toxic reagents and the generation of chemical waste during the synthesis of a wide variety of organic compounds. However, the continued use of harmful or toxic organic solvents remains a significant environmental concern. Therefore, to achieve the ecological goal of reducing the amount of organic solvents or replacing them, it is essential to investigate the electrochemistry of more environmentally friendly solvents derived from renewable sources. Dihydrolevoglucosenone (DLG or Cyrene™) is a biodegradable, bio-renewable solvent produced from cellulose mass. Its dielectric constant is comparable to that of DMF, NMP, and DMAc, which makes it a suitable candidate for applications in organic electrochemistry. Consequently, this work investigates the conductivity, viscosity behaviour, and IR spectroscopy of tetraalkylammonium salt solutions in DLG, which are commonly used as supporting electrolytes in OES. Additionally, the study of the electrochemical behaviour of representative molecules (ferrocene, phenol, EDOT, indole, morpholine, phthalimide, and nitro derivatives) demonstrates the feasibility of utilising this renewable solvent in electrochemical applications.