Oxidation of Carboxylate

Thus prepared layers have been further modified to develop electrocatalysts and sensors. Polypyridyl ruthenium-oxo complexes are of particular interest as efficient oxidants for a wide variety of organic molecules, including aromatic hydrocarbons, olefins, alcohols, and ketones. One such electrocatalyst was prepared by first electrografting bipyridine at an applied positive potential followed by treating the modified surface with [Ru tl2(DMSO)(terpyridine)] and then CFjSOjH/HjO [104]. Enhanced electrochemical activity has also been observed for the reduction of oxygen at anthraquinone-modified GC electrodes in 0.1 M KOH solution [105, 

Anthraquinone was grafted by oxidizing lO-anthraquinone-2-ethanoic acid in dimethylformamide. 

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One-electron oxidation of carboxylate ions generates acyloxy radicals, which undergo decarboxylation. Such electron-transfer reactions can be effected by strong one-electron oxidants, such as Mn(HI), Ag(II), Ce(IV), and Pb(IV) These metal ions are also capable of oxidizing the radical intermediate, so the products are those expected from carbocations. The oxidative decarboxylation by Pb(IV) in the presence of halide salts leads to alkyl halides. For example, oxidation of pentanoic acid with lead tetraacetate in the presence of lithium chloride gives 1-chlorobutane in 71% yield ... 

Oxidation of Carboxylic Acids and Their Functional Derivatives... 

The study of optical isomers has shown a similar development. First it was shown that the reduction potentials of several meso and racemic isomers were different (Elving et al., 1965 Feokstistov, 1968 Zavada et al., 1963) and later, studies have been made of the ratio of dljmeso compound isolated from electrolyses which form products capable of showing optical activity. Thus the conformation of the products from the pinacolization of ketones, the reduction of double bonds, the reduction of onium ions and the oxidation of carboxylic acids have been reported by several workers (reviewed by Feokstistov, 1968). Unfortunately, in many of these studies the electrolysis conditions were not controlled and it is therefore too early to draw definite conclusions about the stereochemistry of electrode processes and the possibilities for asymmetric syntheses. 

A further effect which has been known for many years is that of anions, which are specifically adsorbed at high anodic potentials on platinum, on the products of the oxidation of carboxylate ions. For example, carbonium ion-derived products can be obtained in the presence of such specific adsorption and this demands a complete change in reaction route (Fioshin and Avrutskaya, 1967 Glasstone and Hickling, 1934). 

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. 

Anodic Oxidation of Carboxylic Acids Without Decarboxylation... 

The oxidation of carboxylic acids with H2O2 and an acid catalyst is the best general... 

Although Ce(IV) oxidation of carboxylic acids is slow and incomplete under similar reaction conditions , the rate is greatly enhanced on addition of perchloric acid. No kinetics were obtained but product analysis of the oxidations of -butyric, isobutyric, pivalic and acetic acids indicates an identical oxidative decarboxylation to take place. Photochemical decomposition of Ce(IV) carbo-xylates is highly efficient unity) and Cu(ll) diverts the course of reaction in the same way as in the thermal oxidation by Co(IIl). Direct spectroscopic evidence for the intermediate formation of alkyl radicals was obtained by Greatorex and Kemp ° who photoirradiated several Ce(IV) carboxylates in a degassed perchloric acid glass at 77 °K in the cavity of an electron spin resonance spectro-... 

Radicals, (34), that subsequently dimerise, are also obtained through the anodic oxidation of carboxylate anions, RCO20, in the Kolbe electrolytic synthesis of hydrocarbons ... 

A literature method for preparation of chromyl acetate by interaction of chromium trioxide and acetic anhydride was modified by omission of cooling and agitation. The warm mixture exploded violently when moved [1], A later publication emphasised the need for cooling, and summarised several such previous occurrences [2], An earlier reference attributes the cause of chromium trioxide-acetic anhydride oxidation mixtures going out of control to presence of nitric acid or nitrates in the chromium trioxide, and a simple test to check this point is given [3], Mixtures used as a reagent for the remote oxidation of carboxylic esters are potentially explosive, and must be made up and used at below 25 °C under controlled conditions [4], An attempt to purify the anhydride by warming with 2% w/v of trioxide led to an explosion at 30°C [5],... 

As an example we may consider the Kolbe reaction, the oxidation of carboxylic acid and carboxylates of the form R-COOH or R-COO- to form coupled hydrocarbon products of the form R2. Investigation of this reaction in aqueous and non-aqueous solvents has revealed that the processes taking place are very complex indeed. In general, the product R2 is only formed at high current densities on smooth electrodes. At lower current densities, alkenes and non-dimeric products such as R-H are found, and, especially in alkaline solutions, the product R-OH can be formed in good... 

The trapping of allyl radicals with other open-shell species can be studied in all reactions in which a sufficiently high concentration of radicals is created and in which the concentration of nonradical trapping agents is low. This prerequisite has been met in Kolbe electrolysis reactions, in which radicals are generated by one-electron oxidation of carboxylate anions. One of the simplest systems, the reaction of methyl radicals with... 

Cations resulting from a two-electron oxidation of carboxylic acids (non-Kolbe electrolysis) or from compounds having protons in the a-position to heteroatoms as shown in Scheme 3 [6] react with nucleophilic centers. In the last case. 

The simplest design of electrochemical cell has two electrodes dipping into the solution containing the substrate and the supporting electrolyte. A cell of this type is suitable for the Kolbe oxidation of carboxylate ions (see p. 316) where the anode reaction is given by Equation 1.1 and the cathode reaction is the evolution of hydrogen (Equation 1.2). Both the substrate and the hydrocarbon product are inert... 

Kolbe oxidation of carboxylate ions to radicals with loss of carbon dioxide (p. 312). The latter process gives highest yields of dimeric product at a platinum anode and only monomeric products from oxidation of the radical centre at a carbon anode. Oxidation of butadiene in methanol containing benzoic acid, at a smooth platinum anode, gives 45 % of the but-3-ene-l,4-diol diester [45]. 

Experimental evidence indicates that the alkyl radical intermediates from the anodic oxidation of carboxylates are generated in free solution and have no memory of the configuration of the carboxyl group that was eliminated. Where the carboxylic acid function is attached to an asymmetric carbon atom as in 15, the Kolbe coupling reaction leads to complete racemization [67]. Anodic oxidation of (+)-2-... 

Oxidation of carboxylate ions in homogeneous solution using some one-electron transfer agents gives in varying proportions the Kolbe dimer and the product from hydrogen atom abstraction from the solvent by the intermediate alkyl radical. Persulphate ion [109], hexachloco-osmate(v) [110] and the radical-cation from tris(4-bromophenyl)amine [111] all have been used to promote this reaction. 

Substituents stabilising a carbonium ion influence the course of the anodic oxidation of carboxylic acids by promoting fast oxidation of the radical intermediate to the carbonium ion. Subsequent chemical steps are those expected of this ionic intermediate and the overall process is termed the non-Kolbe reaction. Reaction at... 

Polymer supported persulfonic acids can be prepared by treating polymer-bound sulfonic acids with H2O2 or K2S20g. The resulting resin was found to display an activity of 2.5 mole equivalents per gram of wet resin. This persulfonated resin was successively applied for the oxidation of carboxylic acids, ketones, olefins and for the cleavage of disulfide linkage and of A-formylamino acids. 

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