The electrochemical asymmetric reduction of α-keto acids in the magnetic fields

✍ Scribed by Fujio Takahashi; Keiji Tomii; Hiroshi Takahashi

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1986
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 399 KB
• Volume: 31
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0013-4686
• DOI: 10.1016/0013-4686(86)80073-1

✦ Synopsis

It was found that mandelic or lactic acid, which was produced by the electrolytic reduction of phenylglyoxylic or pyruvic acid in the magnetic fields of 98S1680 Gauss, was dextrorotatory. The optical yield increased proportionally to the magnetic flux density. The electrochemical asymmetric reduction occurred when the direction of magnetic flux was parallel to the normal of the surface of mercury electrode.

The same results were obtained if the magnet was placed upside down, that is, north and south poles were replaced reversely. No'rotatory power appeared when the magnetic flux was directed horizontally.

In the case of phenylglyoxylic acid reduction, the maximum optical yield was 21% under the conditions of pH 3.8, 10°C. 1680 Gauss and the controlled potential with -1.25 V vs see. F'yruvic acid was similarly reduced to form excessive L-isomer when the electrolysis was carried out at pH 4.4,25"C, 1680 Gauss and -1.3Vvssce.