Indirect cerium mediated electrosynthesis
OwnerStephen Harrisoninventor
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Abstract
An integrated process for oxidizing aromatic and alkyl aromatic compounds to form carbonyl containing reaction products comprising the reaction of quadravalent cerium with a reactant stream containing an aromatic or alkyl aromatic compound and using a high degree of mixing, followed by the electrolytic regeneration of the reduced cerium ion in a cell under near turbulent or turbulent flow conditions at high solution velocities relative to the anode. The preferred cell structure for accomplishing the electrolysis utilizes an turbulence promoting anode arrangement which allows for the anolyte to flow past the anode under the conditions mentioned, and a reduced area cathode whereby the anode and cathode compartments need not be separated by an ion exchange membrane.
Claims18
A process for oxidizing aromatic and alkyl aromatic reactants to form carbonyl-containing reaction products comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing an aqueous solution of cerium.sup.III in methanesulfonic acid;
- (b) in an electrochemical cell, electrolytically converting said cerium.sup.III in said aqueous solution to cerium.sup.IV to form an aqueous reactant solution of cerium.sup.IV in methanesulfonic acid;
- (c) transferring said aqueous reactant solution from said cell to a plug flow reactor;
- and
- (d) mixing, in said plug flow reactor, said aqueous reactant solution with a water immiscible organic solution containing a solubilized aromatic or alkyl aromatic reactant in said water immiscible organic solution to form a carbonyl-containing reaction product and cerium.sup.III.
A process for oxidizing aromatic and alkyl aromatic reactants to form carbonyl containing reaction products comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing a solution of cerium.sup.III in methanesulfonic acid;
- (b) in an electrochemical cell, electrolytically converting said cerium.sup.III to cerium.sup.IV to form a reactant solution of cerium.sup.IV in methanesulfonic acid;
- (c) transferring said reactant solution from said cell to a plug flow reactor;
- and
- (d) reacting, in said plug flow reactor, an aromatic or alkyl aromatic reactant in said reactant solution to form a carbonyl containing reaction product and cerium.sup.III.
A process for oxidizing aromatic and alkyl aromatic reactants to form carbonyl-containing reaction products, comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing an aqueous solution of cerium.sup.III in methanesulfonic acid;
- (b) in an electrochemical cell, electrolytically converting said cerium.sup.III to cerium.sup.IV to form an aqueous reactant solution of cerium.sup.IV in methanesulfonic acid;
- (c) removing said reactant solution from said cell to a plug flow reactor;
- (d) combining a water immiscible organic phase in said plug flow reactor with said aqueous solution, said organic phase comprising a solubilized aromatic or alkyl aromatic reactant;
- and
- (e) flowing a combination of said organic phase and said reactant solution formed in step (d), during plug flow, through turbulence promotors in said plug flow reactor to cause said solubilized aromatic or alkyl aromatic reactant to react with said cerium.sup.IV and form a product stream including a carbonyl-containing product and cerium.sup.III.
A process for oxidizing napthalene to form napthoquinone, comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing an aqueous solution of cerium.sup.III in methanesulfonic acid;
- (b) in an electrochemical cell, electrolytically converting said cerium.sup.III to cerium.sup.IV to form an aqueous solution of cerium.sup.IV in methanesulfonic acid;
- (c) forming a reactant stream comprising napthalene dissolved in a water immiscible organic solvent;
- (d) mixing a combination of said reactant stream and said aqueous solution in a plug flow reactor to cause said napthalene to react with said cerium.sup.IV and form a product stream including napthoquinone and cerium.sup.III.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.