Metallic Impurities in Electrolysis: Catalytic Effect of Pb Traces in Reductive Amination and Acetone Reduction

Abstract: The electrochemical hydrogenation (e‐hydrogenation) of unsaturated compounds like imines or carbonyls presents a benign reduction method. It enables direct use of electrons as reducing agent, water as proton source, while bypassing the need for elevated temperatures or pressures. In this contribution, we discuss the active species in electrocatalytic reductive amination with the transformation of acetone and methylamine as model reaction. Surprisingly, lead impurities in the ppm‐range proved to possess a significant effect in e‐hydrogenation. Accordingly, the influence of applied potential and cathode material in presence of 1 ppm Pb was investigated. Finally, we transferred the insights to the reduction of acetone manifesting comparable observations as for imine reduction. The results suggest that previous studies on electrochemical reduction in the presence of lead electrodes should be re‐evaluated.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Metallic Impurities in Electrolysis: Catalytic Effect of Pb Traces in Reductive Amination and Acetone Reduction ; day:04 ; month:11 ; year:2024 ; extent:9 ; Angewandte Chemie / International edition. International edition ; (04.11.2024) (gesamt 9)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Kümper, Justus ; Mürtz, Sonja D. ; Guan, Yani ; Kumari, Simran ; Hausoul, Peter J. C. ; Kurig, Nils ; Sautet, Philippe ; Palkovits, Regina

Further information

• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202411532
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2411051321300.843462279467
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:30 AM CEST