Electrosynthesis of 1,5-diaminonaphthalene from 1,5-dinitronaphthalene was studied. At room temperature, the electrochemical reduction behavior of 1,5-dinitronaphathlene has been studied on a Cu electrode by cycle voltammertry in DMF-water solution. It was an irreversible reaction controlled by diffusion. 1,5-Dinitronaphthalene exhibited two successive waves in the DMF-water solution which were corresponding to the two nitro-group electroreduction. The transfer coefficients of the reaction were calcu-lated. The values of α₁ and α₂ were between 0.275～0.335 and 0.360～0.437, respectively. Influence of electrolysis potential (E), the concentration of 1,5-dinitronaphthalene (c₁), the concentration of sulfuric acid (c₂), the passed charge (Q) and volume ratio of solvent to water (Y) was investigated to opti-mize the electrolytic conditions, with the maximal yield to be 77%.

Key words: 1,5-dinitronaphthalene, 1,5-diaminonaphthalene, constant-potential elec-trolysis, electrochemical reduction