Electrocatalytic hydrogenation of aromatic compounds in ionic liquid solutions over WS2-on-glassy carbon and Raney nickel cathodes

► Aromatics were electro-catalytically hydrogenated in ionic liquid at ambient T and P. ► WS2 catalytic electrode was active in the presence of sulphur compound (thiophene). ► Naphthalene, quinoline and carbazole were hydrogenated. ► Current efficiencies for the WS2 electrode were below 10% in all cases. ► Methyl napththalene and benzothiophene were not hydrogenated.