Anodic oxidation of isoalkylethers in aqueous electrolytes

✍ Scribed by Fritz Beck; Bernd Wermeckes; Wolfgang Janβen

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1991
• Tongue: French
• Weight: 661 KB
• Volume: 47
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0040-4020
• DOI: 10.1016/s0040-4020(01)87062-9

✦ Synopsis

Three isoalkyletherf,. di-sec-butylether (DSBE), di-i-propylether 6 DIPE) and t-butylmethylether (TBME) were oxAzed in 1 M H&Or (mostly as emulsions) at Pt ano es. Solubility was improved by cosolvents, e.g. CHaCN. The standard current density was 750 A m-s. Methylethylketone MEK was the main product, obtained with c.e. of 50 % (yield 70 %), for the cleavage of DSBE. Acetone was found with 68 % c.e. and 66 % yield for the decomposition of DIPE. Acetic acid was the main side product in both cases. TBME was anodically cleaved into t-butanol with 83 % c.e. In case of DSBE, the reaction has some industrial interest, for it transforms a useless side product of butene hydration to a valuable product MEK.