Polymers as reagents and catalysts - Part 29. The role of polymeric mediator structure in electrochemical oxidation

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)80965-0

Electrochemical oxidations of phenylsubstituted alkanes and alcohols in the presence of various polymeric mediators were studied. The effect of halide (X=: F, Cl, Br, I) bonded to an insoluble resin, on the oxidation of diphenylmethane and triphenylmethane was investigated and poly(styrene-co-4-vinylpyridinium) chloride was found to be the most effective. In contrast, crosslinked poly(styrene-co-4-vinylpyridinium) bromide was the most effective mediator in the oxidation of alcohols to ketones, where also the influence of polymer matrix, i.e., functionalized polystyrene or poly(styrene-co-4-vinylpyridine) bearing ion, is most evident. The structure of the substrate played an important role in electrochemical oxidations in the presence of polymer mediators.