Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical studies on aniline in organic medium and its antiknock mechanism

Electrochemical properties of aniline in 1,2-dichloroethane are investigated by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and in situ UV-vis spectroelectrochemistry. Aniline is an additive in gasoline, whose antiknock mechanism is extrapolated on the basis of its electrochemical properties and its reaction with hydrogen peroxide. The experimental results indicate that for aniline low parent concentration and non-protonic solvents are in favor of producing benzidine by tail-to-tail coupling of cation radicals, the nature of the reaction between aniline and hydrogen peroxide is in that the proton released from electrooxidation can interact with hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide can reduce the resistance of the electrochemical reaction and also has an inhibiting effect on the transmission of ion from solution to the electrode surface. The results offer significant evidence and a new method for studying antiknock mechanism of aromatic amines.