A polarographic study of the reduction of unsymmetrical benzils.

This investigation applied the techniques of polarography and controlled potential electrolytic reduction to the study of a series of unsymmetrical benzils. Eleven unsymmetrical benzils were synthesized and studied in 50% ethanol-water (by volume) solvent systems buffered at pH 1, 5, and 13. The results showed that, with unsymmetrical benzils substituted with electron-withdrawing or electrondonating groups, the carbonyl closest to the ring with the least electron-donating power was the preferred reaction site. However, the dicarbonyl system was nevertheless reduced as a unit, and Hammett sigma values of disubstituted symmetrical benzils were approximately additive. This was ascertained by comparing the ease of reduction of eight unsymmetrical benzils to the ease of reduction of the corresponding disubstituted symmetrical benzils. It was proposed that the electrons were added to the oxygen of one carbonyl, and that the second carbonyl was involved in the reduction chiefly through complete polarization of the dicarbonyl system at the electrode. In general, the reduction of unsymmetrical benzils appeared to follow the same path previously reported for symmetrical benzils.

Department dc:contributor.department

Institute of Paper Science and Technology

Grantor dc:publisher

Georgia Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

1967

Author dc:creator

• Sobieski, James F.

• Polarography
• Benzils
• Benzoin
• Isomers
• Electrolytic reduction
• Carbonyls

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1853/5614

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.gatech.edu:1853/5614