Electrolytic synthesis of aryl alcohols, aryl aldehydes, and aryl acids

摘要

Disclosed is a method of synthesizing compounds chosen from the group consisting of benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, benzoic acid, phenoxy benzyl alcohol, phenoxy benzaldehyde, phenoxy benzoic acid, and mixtures thereof by providing a composition of a current carrying component, such as a fluoroborate salt or a tetraethylammonium salt, a solvent, and a methyl aryl compound in contact with an anode and cathode. The solvent is reduced at the cathode and the methyl substituted aryl at the anode whereby to form product. According to an alternative exemplification of the invention, the anode and cathode are separated by a permionic membrane and a source of oxygen is provided in contact with the cathode and the permionic membrane.