Electrocatalysis and Electrosynthesis: Insights and Developments through Reaction Monitoring

Jana Roithová

Understanding reaction mechanisms is the key to developing new chemical reactions. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry has a unique dynamic range that allows for studying reaction mixture compositions, including low-abundant reactive intermediates, side products, and degraded forms of catalysts.  In the lecture, I will focus on mapping electrochemical transformations and detecting and characterizing reaction intermediates (Figure 1). -  I will present our approach to using advanced mass spectrometry methods, such as ion spectroscopy, to characterize reactive species by vibrational and electronic spectroscopy.  I will also show how understanding the processes at the electrode interface enable development of new reactions.