The role of tetraalkylammonium salts in the electroreduction of ketones, part II. : the reduction of acetophenone in an aprotic environment

A polarog. study of the electroredn. of acetophenone in MeCN revealed that under strictly anhyd. conditions the carbonyl compd. was reduced only if tetraalkylammonium ions are present. The catalytic effect of the ammonium ions is related to an increased polarization of the carbonyl double bond being induced during collision of the ammonium ions with the carbonyl compd. At high ammonium ion concns., however, the effect of this catalysis becomes smaller due to preferential adsorption of the ammonium ions on the electrode surface, as a result of which the carbonyl compd. is displaced from the direct vicinity of the electrode