Electrocatalytic Carboxylation of Benzyl Chloride at Silver Cathode in Ionic Liquid BMIMBF4

The feasibility of electrocarboxylation of benzyl chloride has been investigated at silver cathode in CO2-saturated room-temperature ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIMBF4) solution for the first time. The electrochemical behavior was studied at different electrodes by cyclic voltammetry, which showed significant electrocatalytic effect of the silver electrode on the reduction of benzyl chloride. The highest yield of 45% of phenylacetic acid was obtained under optimal conditions. The recovered ionic liquid was reused for four times with gradual decrease in the yield of phenylacetic acid.