Reactivity of electrochemically synthesised zinc nanofiber in facile reduction of nitro and azide compounds

Abstract

Electrochemistry is used in generation of metallic nano zinc wire from aqueous zinc chloride. For this electrochemical process we have designed a unit galvanic cell. During the electrochemical process both aliphatic and aromatic nitro and azide compounds undergo facile reduction to the corresponding amines. ZnCl₂ is used as stoichiometric reagent and causes electrochemical deposition of zinc in cathode. During the process wire shaped nano zinc architecture has been formed in cathode which is supposed to be the active reagent for reduction. The cathode deposited material has been characterised by powder XRD, XPS, FESEM, HRTEM, EDX, SQUID etc. The corresponding amines are prepared in good yields. Both zinc salts and aqueous solution can be recycled.