Acetoxylation of o, m Cresol by Electrochemical Process at Graphite Electrode

T. Parimala; A. L. Kavitha

Abstract

Electrochemical processes remain unique because of the nature of specific products formed and their mode of formation in which current is a reactive input in place of redox reagents. The high yields of the products can be obtained by designing and optimizing the electrolysis. The ordinary chemical procedures are multi-staged and may result poor yields. Therefore the best way for minimizing the pollution is transformation of conventional chemical processes to non-conventional electrochemical processes. Anodic acetoxylation of aromatic compounds was the positive evidence for the existence of acetoxy radicals in the Kolbe reaction. Aromatic compounds that undergo acetoxylation are generally oxidized at potentials below the critical potential for oxidation of acetate ion. Aromatic compounds undergo acetoxylation during electrochemical oxidation in acetic acid containing sodium acetate. The radical cation is first formed and reacts with acetate ion in an equilibrium step which is driven forward by further oxidation of the radical product. Electrochemical acetoxylation does not occur with negatively substituted aromatics whose oxidation potentials are more anodic than the discharge potential of acetate. However, substitution does occur at which aromatics are oxidized. The side chain anodic acetoxylation of aromatics has been described as proceeding through two consecutive electron transfer reactions or in a simultaneous two-electron transfer and cleavage of the α –C-H bond gives a benzyl cation. The main objective of the present paper is, suggesting an electro-chemical route for a typical chemical process. The exhaustive literature survey reveals that an electro chemical acetoxylation of some aromatic compounds has been carried out on platinum electrodes. This leads to the idea of exploring the possibilities of acetoxylation of Ortho and Meta cresol using on graphite electrode.

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