Encyclopedia of Applied Electrochemistry

2014 Edition
| Editors: Gerhard Kreysa, Ken-ichiro Ota, Robert F. Savinell

Cathodic Hydrocoupling of Acrylonitrile (Electrosynthesis of Adiponitrile)

Reference work entry
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6996-5_341

Introduction

Cathodic hydrocoupling of acrylonitrile is one of the most well-known organic electrochemical processes because of its unique chemical reaction and industrial application. This reaction had already known since the 1940s, but the yield of product was not high in those days. In 1960 Manuel M. Baizer improved the yield and current efficiency of the coupling reaction by a discovery of using quaternary ammonium salts as supporting electrolyte [1]. The product of this coupling reaction is adiponitrile which is known as intermediate of polyamid used for engineering plastics, tire cord, and clothes. Adiponitrileis also used for synthesis of polyurethane. From the benefit of Nylon and polyurethane, cathodic hydrocoupling of acrylonitrile is absolutely essential technology for human life.

Cathodic Reaction of Acrylonitrile

The reaction mechanism for cathodic hydrocoupling of acrylonitrile has been extensively investigated by many researchers and it has been establishedas shown in...
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References

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Asahi Kasei Chemicals CorporationTokyoJapan