Electrochemical process for the synthesis of organic compounds
AssigneeAnic S.p.A.
InventorsErmanno Oberrauch, Lennard Eberson
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Abstract
An electrochemical process is disclosed for the synthesis of organic compounds, said process having the unique characteristic that the element evolved at the anode is exploited by having it reacting with the product of electrolysis obtained at the cathode by the presence of an appropriate catalyst. The catalyst may be associated in the most convenient manner to the anode, or it can be the anode itself. The process opens the way to a number of synthesis reaction which may be carried out electrolytically instead of the conventional ways.
Claims7
In an electrochemical process conducted in an undivided electrolytic cell having a graphite anode and a platinum cathode, wherein a starting methylbenzene compound, having at least one methyl group bonded to the nucleus thereof, is reacted, at the anode with an acetate in the presence of acetic acid to form the corresponding nuclear acetate and a benzyl acetate byproduct, and wherein hydrogen evolves at said cathode, the improvement which comprises
- adding a hydrogenolysis catalyst comprised of a precious metal on a carbon substrate in an amount sufficient to cause said hydrogen to react, at said cathode, with said benzyl acetate by-product, to regenerate said starting methylbenzene compound and acetic acid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.