HYDRODIMERISATION ELECTROCHIMIQUE DE CETONES AROMATIQUES ENCOMBREES EN MILIEU APROTIQUE ET EN PRESENCE DE CHLORURE DE CHROME

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)91180-9

The electrochemical reduction of hindered aromatic ketones which are difficult to reduce alone, can be achieved in an aprotic medium (DMF) on a mercury pool cathode, in presence of Cr(III) chloride, at the reduction potential of the Cr(II)/Cr(0) system, but at a less negative potential than that of the ketone itself.There is a selective hydrodimerisation into an α-glycol, with total lack of polimerisation.With disymmetric ketones, the dl-diastereoisomers of the diols are produced.The effect of chromium is due either to the reduction of a Cr-ketone complex or to thereduction of the ketone by a film of colloidal chromium on the electrode surface.