Electrochemical Synthesis of 2,2-dinitropropanol

摘要

Bench-scale electrochemical synthesis of 2,2-dinitropropanol (DNPOH) was performed to evaluate scale-up potential. The synthesis scheme employs a reversible chemical mediator Fe(CN)_6~(-3/-4) couple to perform oxidative nitration of nitroethane using the anode of the electrochemical cell as the oxidant source. The flow-cell based system operated in a continuous fashion with the intermediate product (1,1-dinitroethanate K-salt) precipitated and removed from reaction, and starting materials (nitroethane and potassium nitrate) added as consumed in the reaction. The intermediate product was condensed with formaldehyde to produce DNPOH. A discussion of the waste reduction over the chemical route is presented.