Electrosynthesis of complexes containing weakly acidic anions

2 Electrosynthesis of complexes containing weakly acidic anions 

For example, in the case of monosaccharide ligands, [MLnl complexes were synthesized with yields of 80-90% by electrolysis of methanol solutions of the ligands with a copper or nickel anode (M) and a platinum cathode, followed by predpitation of products with benzene. In contrast to the electrosynthesis, the chemical synthesis of the same copper chelates from cupric acetate in methanol proceeds with only a 30% yield and yields both [MLal and [M(MeC02)L], In electrosyntheses of this type the proposed reaction mechanisms involve the anodic dissolution of the metal followed by complex formation. 

The anodic dissolution of zinc in acetonitrile in the presence of the Sdxiff base A has been studied, Hgure 7.5  

Electrosynthesis was complicated by the insertion of carbon dioxide from air into a Zn-N bond of the carbamate complex containing ligand A with formation of the zinc complex of the dianionic ligand B. Hydrogen was liberated at the platinum cathode.  

A large number of metal thiolates have been obtained in high yields by dissolution of sacrificial anodes in solutions of thiols, Eqs. 7.12 - 7.14  

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