Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry: mechanistic tools for organic electrosynthesis

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Chemical Synthesis
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Electrochemical methods offer precise control over reaction selectivity via potential or current tuning.
• Current and potential measurements provide critical mechanistic insights during reactions.
• Understanding electrochemical reaction mechanisms is key for synthetic advancements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explain the application of cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry in interrogating reaction mechanisms.
• To guide the optimization of electrochemical reactions and the design of new synthetic routes.
• To provide a tutorial review on utilizing these electrochemical techniques.

Main Methods:

• Detailed explanation of the fundamental principles of cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry.
• Application of these techniques to probe various (electro)chemical reactions.
• Utilizing steady-state voltammetric and amperometric measurements with microelectrodes (ME) and rotating disk electrodes (RDE).

Main Results:

• Diagnostic criteria for analyzing coupled electrochemical-chemical (EC) reactions using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry.
• Presentation of individual mechanistic studies showcasing the utility of these techniques.
• Demonstration of ME and RDE for bulk solution analysis and kinetic studies.

Conclusions:

• Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry are versatile tools for mechanistic elucidation in electrochemistry.
• These techniques are crucial for optimizing synthetic conditions and discovering novel electrochemical reactions.
• Steady-state measurements with ME/RDE enable accurate kinetic analysis and species identification.