Indirect Electrooxidation of Alkohols and Aldehydes by Using a Double Mediatory System Consisting of RuO4/RuO2 and Cl+/Cl- Redoxes in an Aqueous-Organic Two-Phase System

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00352a006

A double mediatory system consisting of RuO4/RuO2 and Cl+/Cl- redox couples has been developed for the indirect electrooxidation of alcohols and aldehydes.The reaction proceeds in the following manner: (1) oxidation of the substrate with ruthenium tetraoxide (RuO4) in the organic layer, (2) regeneration of ruthenium tetraoxide from ruthenium dioxide (RuO2) with active chlorine species (Cl2 or +), and (3) oxidation of chloride ion to + on the anode in the aqueous layer.The range of applicability of the present procedure is discussed by oxidations of (1)secondary alcohols to ketones, (2) primary alcohols and aldehydes to carboxylic acid, (3) 1,n-diols to lactones and keto acids, and (4) carbohydrate derivatives.