Electrochemical oxidation of toluene promoted by OH radicals

Abstract

Benzaldehyde can be produced from toluene by an electrochemical process involving OH radicals. In the cathodic compartment of the electrolytic cell the reduction of molecular O₂ and of a metal ion M^ox, are simultaneously carried out in the presence of a toluene suspension. M^ox is the oxidized form of a redox couple such as V(V)/V(IV), V(IV)/V(III), Cu(II)/Cu(I); the electrogenerated H₂O₂ and the reduced metal ion generates OH radicals and M^ox, which is converted back to the reduced form at the electrode. The reactivity of the redox couples examined were compared from the point of view of their effectiveness for the toluene oxidation process. In some cases, current yields very close to the theoretical ones could be obtained.