Patent ID: 8506789

Claim:
A method for producing a coupled radical product comprising: preparing an anolyte for use in an electrolytic cell, the electrolytic cell comprising an alkali ion conducting membrane, wherein the membrane divides the cell into an anolyte compartment and a catholyte compartment, the anolyte being housed within the anolyte compartment and a catholyte being housed within the catholyte compartment, wherein the anolyte comprises a first solvent or mixture of first solvents and a quantity of an alkali metal salt of a carboxylic acid and an alkali metal salt of a low-carbon carboxylic acid, wherein the catholyte compartment comprises a second solvent or mixture of second solvents, wherein the alkali ion conducting membrane prevents the first solvent and the second solvent from mixing; electrochemical decarboxylating the alkali metal salt of the carboxylic acid of the anolyte within the electrolytic cell, wherein the electrochemical decarboxylating converts the alkali metal salt of the carboxylic acid into alkyl radicals that react to form a coupled radical product, wherein at least some alkyl radicals couple to radicals or formed by electrochemical decarboxylating of said alkali metal salt of the low-carbon carboxylic acid, wherein alkali metal ions are selectively transported across the alkali ion conducting membrane from the anolyte compartment to the catholyte compartment under influence of a electrical potential, wherein an electrochemical reaction of the catholyte produces an alkali metal base in the catholyte compartment; and using the alkali metal base produced in the catholyte compartment to prepare the alkali metal salt of the carboxylic acid.