Electrocatalytic dimerisation of benzyl bromides and phenyl bromide at silver cathode in ionic liquid BMIMBF4

A simple and eco-friendly electrochemical route was developed by using silver as the cathode, magnesium as the anode and ionic liquid BMIMBF4 as solvent for the electrochemical dimerisation of aromatic bromides. The electrochemical behaviour was studied at different electrodes (Ag, Cu, Ni and Ti) by cyclic voltammetry, which shows significant electrocatalytic effect of the silver electrode towards the reductive dimerisation of aromatic bromides. Biaryls were obtained in moderate to good yield (12–68%). A recycling study confirmed that the solvent can be reused multiple times without activity loss.