Societe Nationale Des Poudres Et Explosifs

Societe Nationale Industrielle Et Aerospatiale Des Poudres Et

Marie-Odile Moingeon

Jacques Chaussard

Michel Troupel

Christophe Saboureau

The invention relates to a process for the electrosynthesis of carboxylic acids of general formula R-COOH in which R is an organic radical by the electrochemical reduction, in the presence of carbon dioxide, of organic compounds corresponding to the general formula R--Y in which R is the above-mentioned organic radical and Y is a hetero atom-containing radical, the hetero atom of the radical Y, chosen from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur andphosphorus, being directly linked to a carbon atom of the radical R by a single covalent linkage. When the hetero atom is nitrogen or phosphorus, the radical Y is an ammonium or phosphonium radical respectively. The anode, which is consumed during the electrosynthesis, is made of a metal chosen from the group consisting of reducing metals and their alloys, preferably made of magnesium, aluminium or zinc. This process without catalyst is very simple to perform and enables a cell with a single compartment to be employed. The carboxylic acids are commonly employed in the chemical industry, especially as intermediates for the synthesis of pharmaceutical products or of products used in plant protection.

Process for the electrochemical synthesis of carboxylic acids

The invention relates to a process for the synthesis of ketones by electrochemical reduction of organic halides in the presence of organic acid anhydrides in an electrolysis cell in an organic solvent medium containing a supporting electrolyte. The anode is a metal chosen from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminium, zinc and their alloys. This process has the advantage of being simple and readily capable of being converted to an industrial scale, particularly because of the possibility of employing a cell which has only one compartment. It can be applied to the electrosynthesis of numerous ketones.

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Villabe, France

Marie-Odile Moingeon