Hydrodechlorination of Dichloromethane by a Metal-Free Triazole-Porphyrin Electrocatalyst: Demonstration of Main-Group Element Electrocatalysis

Abstract

<p>In this work, the electrocatalytic reduction of dichloromethane (CH<sub>2</sub>Cl<sub>2</sub>) into hydrocarbons involving a main group element-based molecular triazole-porphyrin electrocatalyst H2PorT8 is reported. This catalyst converted CH<sub>2</sub>Cl<sub>2</sub> in acetonitrile to various hydrocarbons (methane, ethane, and ethylene) with a Faradaic efficiency of 70% and current density of –13 mA/cm<sup>2</sup> at a potential of –2.2 V vs. Fc/Fc<sup>+</sup> using water as a proton source. The findings of this study and its mechanistic interpretations demonstrated that H2PorT8 was an efficient and stable catalyst for the hydrodechlorination of CH<sub>2</sub>Cl<sub>2</sub> and that main group catalysts could be potentially used for exploring new catalytic reaction mechanisms.</p>