Mediated Biphasic electrolysis on anodic oxidation of p-methylbenzyl alcohol in acid medium

A. John Bosco, S. Lawrence, C.

Abstract

The anodic oxidation of p-methylbenzyl alcohol has been studied in the biphasic system containing NaCl as a redox mediator, ClO -/Cl- by hydrolysis in HCl acid medium. Since several parallel reactions are possible, we have investigated, in an undivided cell equipped with a Platinum/Platinum electrode using chloroform as a solvent in presence of the 0.36M Hcl as a supporting electrolyte,.The following parameters influencing the productionof pmethylbenzaldehyde: nature of the In-Cell and Ex-Cell method, nature of the supporting electrolyte, nature of the anode, initial p-methylbenzylalcohol concentration, medium, mediator concentrationand reusability of spent mediator. For the optimum conditions, the conversion of p-methylbenzaldehyde yields maximum at 96%. The reaction mechanism and the features distressing the current efficiency of p-methylbenzaldehyde production were explored.