Patent ID: 8685222

Claim:
An improved process for the preparation of a 3-halopyridine or 3-halopicolinic acid of Formula I wherein X represents Cl or Br; Y represents H, F, Cl, Br or C 1 -C 4 alkyl, with the proviso that when X is Cl, Y is not Br; R 1 represents Cl or CO 2 H; and R 2 represents H or NH 2 in which a direct or alternating electric current is passed from an anode to a silver cathode through a solution of a 3,5-dihalopyridine or 3,5-dihalopicolinic acid of Formula II wherein X, Y, R 1 and R 2 are as previously defined, and wherein both of X are either Cl or Br, at a cathode potential of about âˆ’0.4 to about âˆ’1.7 volts relative to an Ag/AgCl(3.0 M Cl âˆ’ ) reference electrode, the improvement characterized by activating the cathode by anodizing the cathode at a final potential of +1.2 volts followed by reverse polarization.