Electrochemical reactions

Application Note 64: Direct electrochemical oxidation of 4- tert-butyltoluene

This application note demonstrates the use of the Vapourtec Ion electrochemical reactor for the direct oxidation of 4-tert-butyltoluene into 4-tert-butyl benzaldehyde dimethyl acetal. After optimization of this key reaction, the desired product was afforded in a yield of 88%.

Application Note 63: Electrochemical pathway for cross coupling of organic halides – Csp2-Csp3 bonding

We now present a new application note prepared from work undertaken by New Path Molecular Research Ltd.  This research project uses the Vapourtec Ion electrochemical reactor for the reductive cross-electrophile coupling of organic halides, constructing a Csp2-Csp3 bond. After optimization of this key reaction, the desired product was afforded in a yield of 81%.

In 2017, Pfizer revealed a reductive cross coupling reaction to construct Csp2-Csp3 bonds from organic halides in a batch electrochemical system (Perkins, Pedro, & Hansen, 2017). An electrochemical protocol was used to reduce a nickel catalyst (NiII to Ni0 or NiIII to NiII according to literature).  In the application note presented by Vapourtec this same reaction is optimised under continuous flow conditions using the Vapourtec Ion electrochemical reactor.