The Dow Chemical Company

Demetrios Kyriacou

Donald N Brattesani

Fred Y Edamura

Kent D Campbell

Jim Love

Aylin H Gulbenkian

An important increase in the yield of 3,6-dichloropicolinic acid prepared by electrolytic reduction of tetrachloro-2-picolinic acid (in basic, aqueous solution, at a silver cathode) results when a stainless steel anode is used, rather than those (graphite, e.g.) taught in the prior art (U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,185).

Electrolytic cell comprising stainless steel anode, basic aqueous

Mono- or dimethylol compounds having water solubilities of 3 grams or less per 100 grams of water are electrochemically oxidized to the corresponding mono- or dicarboxylic acids at activated nickel oxide anodes. The methylol compounds are adducts of 1,2-alkylene oxides with phenols, pyridinols, bisphenols, phenoxy- or pyridinyloxypyridinols or are polycycloaliphatics ring-substituted with one or two CH.sub.2 OH groups.

Oxidation of hydrophobic --CH.sub.2 OH compounds at oxidized nickel

A highly active cathode, having utility for electrolytic reduction of 2,3,5,6-tetrachloropyridine to 2,3,5-trichloropyridine, comprises a wet, immobilized layer of aggregated silver microcrystals, formed by the electrolytic reduction of colloidal, silver oxide particles in the presence of water and hydroxyl ions.

Highly active silver cathode, preparation of same and use to make

Electrolytic reduction of tetrachloro-2-picolinic acid in basic aqueous solution, at an activated silver cathode, yields the 3,4,6- and 3,5,6-trichloro-2-picolinic acids, which in turn may be further reduced to 3,6-dichloropicolinic acid, a highly active herbicide.

Growing community of inventors

Salonica, Greece

Demetrios Kyriacou