Patent ID: 6238543
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: C25B

Abstract:
A process for the preparation of organic compounds of the structure (II) from one or more carboxylic acids of the structures (I) and (I') according to the equation ##STR3##where R and R' are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl containing from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, substituted alkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, aralkyl and ring-substituted aralkyl, said process comprising the steps of:a) introducing (I) and (I') in the vapor state or as neat organic liquids in the absence of an organic solvent to the anode side of a polymer electrode membrane reactor;b) supplying, concurrently, an oxygen carrying gas to the cathode side of said reactor;c) passing at least one equivalent of electrical current through the polymer electrode membrane reactor resulting in the formation of the compound (II) on the anode side of said reactor and the formation of water on the cathode side of said reactor; andd) isolating the compound (II) from the anode side effluent from the polymer electrode membrane reactor.