Synfacts 2007(8): 0881-0881  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-968804
Polymer-Supported Synthesis
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Non-Kolbe Electrolysis Using Solid-Supported Bases

Contributor(s):Yasuhiro Uozumi, Yutaka Matsuura
T. Tajima*, H. Kurihara, T. Fuchigami
Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan
Development of an Electrolytic System for Non-Kolbe Electrolysis Based on the Acid-Base Reaction between Carboxylic Acids as a Substrate and Solid-Supported Bases
J. Am. Chem. Soc.  2007,  129:  6680-6681  
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
24 July 2007 (online)


Significance

A novel electrolytic system for anodic methoxylation of carboxylic acids using silica gel supported bases (e.g. piperidine) was developed. Non-Kolbe electrolysis of carboxylic acid 1 proceeded smoothly to provide methoxylated product 2, which was easily isolated by simple evaporation of the filtrate after the removal of the silica gel supported piperidine. The reuse of silica gel supported piperidine was successfully carried out five times under the same conditions. The various carboxylic acids were examined to give the corresponding methoxylated products in excellent yields (5 examples, 94-100% yields).

Comment

The authors have reported an electric system for anodic methoxylation and acetoxylation of phenyl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl sulfide using solid-supported bases (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 2848; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2005, 44, 4760). In this paper, they reported the electrolytic system based on the acid-base reaction between carboxylic acids and silica gel supported piperidine to realize the non-Kolbe electro­lysis of carboxylic acids where the carboxylate anion served as both a substrate and a supporting electrolyte.