Electrolysis synthesis

Electrolysis is a fundamental phenomenon not only for corrosion, but also for electric cells, plating, electrolysis, synthesis, etc. Figure 2 shows the schematic illustration for electrolysis. Two electrodes are immersed in the electrolytic bath. One is an anode and the other is the cathode. At the anode, anodic reactions occur where electrons are released, as shown in Eq. (1). 

The 3.8-nonadienoate 91, obtained by dimerization-carbonylation, has been converted into several natural products. The synthesis of brevicomin is described in Chapter 3, Section 2.3. Another royal jelly acid [2-decenedioic acid (149)] was prepared by cobalt carbonyl-catalyzed carbonylation of the terminal double bond, followed by isomerization of the double bond to the conjugated position to afford 149[122], Hexadecane-2,15-dione (150) can be prepared by Pd-catalyzed oxidation of the terminal double bond, hydrogenation of the internal double bond, and coupling by Kolbe electrolysis. Aldol condensation mediated by an organoaluminum reagent gave the unsaturated cyclic ketone 151 in 65% yield. Finally, the reduction of 151 afforded muscone (152)[123]. n-Octanol is produced commercially as described beforc[32]. 

Preparation. The synthesis of OF2 was first achieved by the electrolysis of molten KHF2 in the presence of water (37). The electrolysis of aqueous HF in the presence of O2 and was also found to produce OF2 (38—40). 

Potential fusion appHcations other than electricity production have received some study. For example, radiation and high temperature heat from a fusion reactor could be used to produce hydrogen by the electrolysis or radiolysis of water, which could be employed in the synthesis of portable chemical fuels for transportation or industrial use. The transmutation of radioactive actinide wastes from fission reactors may also be feasible. This idea would utilize the neutrons from a fusion reactor to convert hazardous isotopes into more benign and easier-to-handle species. The practicaUty of these concepts requires further analysis. 

Synthesis gas preparation consists of three steps ( /) feedstock conversion, (2) carbon monoxide conversion, and (2) gas purification. Table 4 gives the main processes for each of the feedstocks (qv) used. In each case, except for water electrolysis, concommitant to the reactions shown, the water-gas shift reaction occurs. 

Titanium Silicides. The titanium—silicon system includes Ti Si, Ti Si, TiSi, and TiSi (154). Physical properties are summarized in Table 18. Direct synthesis by heating the elements in vacuo or in a protective atmosphere is possible. In the latter case, it is convenient to use titanium hydride instead of titanium metal. Other preparative methods include high temperature electrolysis of molten salt baths containing titanium dioxide and alkalifluorosiUcate (155) reaction of TiCl, SiCl, and H2 at ca 1150°C, using appropriate reactant quantities for both TiSi and TiSi2 (156) and, for Ti Si, reaction between titanium dioxide and calcium siUcide at ca 1200°C, followed by dissolution of excess lime and calcium siUcate in acetic acid. 

The products of this electrolysis have a variety of uses. Chlorine is used to purify drinking water large quantities of it are consumed in making plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Hydrogen, prepared in this and many other industrial processes, is used chiefly in the synthesis of ammonia (Chapter 12). Sodium hydroxide (lye), obtained on evaporation of the electrolyte, is used in processing pulp and paper, in the purification of aluminum ore, in the manufacture of glass and textiles, and for many other purposes. 

For a long period of time, molten salts containing niobium and tantalum were widely used for the production by electrolysis of metals and alloys. This situation initiated intensive investigations into the electrochemical processes that take place in molten fluorides containing dissolved tantalum and niobium in the form of complex fluoride compounds. Well-developed sodium reduction processes currently used are also based on molten salt media. In addition, molten salts are a suitable reagent media for the synthesis of various compounds, in the form of both single crystals and powdered material. The mechanisms of the chemical interactions and the compositions of the compounds depend on the structure of the melt. 

Sheng, R. Rapid Ways to Recognize Kekulean Benzenoid Systems. 153, 211-226 (1990). Schafer, H.-J. Recent Contributions of Kolbe Electrolysis to Organic Synthesis. 152,91-151 (1989). 

A much improved synthesis of perfluoroalkanesulphonyl fluorides from sulphones has been published. This involves the electrolysis of cyclic unsaturated sulphones in anhydrous HF at 8-10°C using a potential of 5-7 volts. Thus, butadiene sulphone was oxidized to perfluorobutanesulphonyl fluoride in quantitative yield211 (equation 94). 

Amino acids, sulphoxide, radiolysis of 909 a-Amino acids, reactions of 776, 777 a-Aminosulphones, synthesis of 176 Aminosulphonyl radicals 1093 Aminosulphoxides rearrangement of 740 synthesis of 336 Andersen synthesis 60 / -Anilinosulphoxides, synthesis of 334, 335 Anion radicals 1048-1050 ESR spectra of 1050-1054 formation of during electrolysis 963 during radiolysis 892-897, 899, 903 Annulation 778, 781, 801, 802 Antibiotics, synthesis of 310 Arenesulphenamides 740 Arenesulphenates 623 reactions of 282 rearrangement of 719 Arenesulphinates 824, 959 chiral 618... 

Recent Contributions of Kolbe Electrolysis to Organic Synthesis... 

Faraday, in 1834, was the first to encounter Kolbe-electrolysis, when he studied the electrolysis of an aqueous acetate solution [1], However, it was Kolbe, in 1849, who recognized the reaction and applied it to the synthesis of a number of hydrocarbons [2]. Thereby the name of the reaction originated. Later on Wurtz demonstrated that unsymmetrical coupling products could be prepared by coelectrolysis of two different alkanoates [3]. Difficulties in the coupling of dicarboxylic acids were overcome by Crum-Brown and Walker, when they electrolysed the half esters of the diacids instead [4]. This way a simple route to useful long chain l,n-dicarboxylic acids was developed. In some cases the Kolbe dimerization failed and alkenes, alcohols or esters became the main products. The formation of alcohols by anodic oxidation of carboxylates in water was called the Hofer-Moest reaction [5]. Further applications and limitations were afterwards foimd by Fichter [6]. Weedon extensively applied the Kolbe reaction to the synthesis of rare fatty acids and similar natural products [7]. Later on key features of the mechanism were worked out by Eberson [8] and Utley [9] from the point of view of organic chemists and by Conway [10] from the point of view of a physical chemist. In Germany [11], Russia [12], and Japan [13] Kolbe electrolysis of adipic halfesters has been scaled up to a technical process. 

The coupling of carboxylic acids has been profitably used in natural product synthesis. Kolbe electrolysis of 10 is part of a (+) x-onocerin synthesis [120], the dimerization of il leads to a pentacyclosqualene [121], the electrolysis of 12 afforded a dime-with two quaternary carbon atoms [122], and 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracontane has been synthesized from 13 [123]. 

Despite of the disadvantage, that at least one symmetrical dimer is formed as a major side product, mixed Kolbe electrolysis has turned out to be a powerful synthetic method. It enables the efficient synthesis of rare fatty acids, pheromones, chiral building blocks or non proteinogenic amino acids. The starting compounds are either accessible from the large pool of fatty acids or can be easily prepared via the potent methodologies for the construction of carboxylic acids. 

Another advantage of the synthesis by mixed Kolbe electrolysis is that polar groups in the carboxylic acid are tolerated in radical coupling. This makes additional protection-deprotection steps unneccessary, which are often needed in polar CC-bond forming reactions and can make these approaches less attractive in such cases. 

---