The electrochemical halogenation of benzene: an in situ confocal microprobe Raman study

The electrochemical substitution of benzene on Pt and Rh electrodes has been studied by a confocal microprobe Raman technique. The results showed that chlorination or bromination of benzene could occur with the positive-shift of the electrode potential. The two processes are significantly influenced by the roughness of the electrodes, the relative concentration of benzene and halide ion in solution and the entity of the substrates. The possible mechanism of the electrochemical halogenation of benzene has been proposed.