Process for the electrochemical preparation of gamma-hydroxycarboxylic esters and gamma-lactones
AssigneeBASF SE
InventorsItamar Michael Malkowsky, Florian Stecker, Simone Lutter, Olivier Abillard, Ralf Pelzer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
γ-Hydroxycarboxylic esters and γ-lactones which are suitable as flavors can be prepared by electrochemical reductive cross-coupling of α,β-unsaturated esters with carbonyl compounds in an undivided electrolysis cell having a cathode composed of lead, lead alloys, cadmium, cadmium alloys, mercury, steel, glassy carbon or boron-doped diamonds and a basic aqueous electrolyte comprising an electrolyte salt which suppresses the cathodic formation of hydrogen.
Claims13
A process for the electrochemical preparation of γ-hydroxycarboxylic esters, γ-lactones, or both, the process comprising reductive cross-coupling of α,β-unsaturated esters with carbonyl compounds in an undivided electrolysis cell,
- wherein the electrolysis cell comprises a cathode material and a basic, aqueous electrolyte,
- the cathode material is selected from the group consisting of lead, lead alloy, cadmium, cadmium alloy, mercury, steel, glassy carbon, and boron-doped diamond, and
- the electrolyte comprises at least one electrolyte salt selected from the group consisting of bisquaternary ammonium, multiquaternary ammonium, and phosphonium salt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.