The electro-oxidation of dimethylamine borane: Part 2, in situ FTIR on single-crystal gold electrodes

Dimethylamine borane (DMAB) electro-oxidation in alkaline media was studied using static and rotating gold single-crystal electrodes in the hanging-meniscus configuration. DMAB oxidation showed a strong sensitivity towards surface structure on gold electrodes. In situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed that the potential-dependent cleavage of the B–N bond is one of the initial steps of the oxidation process. FTIR also showed that dimethylamine is oxidised in the potential range of gold oxide formation.

• We have studied the oxidation of dimethylamine borane (DMAB) on single crystal Au electrodes.
• The results have been compared with recent literature on the electro-oxidation of borohydride.
• Further information is obtained through use of in situ infra-red spectroscopy.
• The mechanism of DMAB electro-oxidation is hereby proposed.