Reduction of nitrate to give hydroxylamine at a mercury electrode using cobalt( III )–and nickel( II )–cyclams as catalysts

Electrocatalytic reduction of NO3– takes place efficiently in the presence of a small amount of CoIII– or NiII–cyclam (cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetra-azacyclotetradecane) in aqueous solutions to give NH2OH selectively at an Hg electrode.