CHEMICALLY MODIFIED ANODES FOR ELECTROSYNTHESIS

COMPARED TO CATHODE MATERIALS FOR ELECTROSYNTHESIS, THERE ARE MUCH FEWER SUITABLE ANODE MATERIALS WHICH ARE AT THE SAME TIME STABLE, INEXPENSIVE, ELECTROCATALYTIC FOR THE PROCESS, AND ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE. THIS PHASE I PROPOSAL DESCRIBES THE PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CHEMICALLY MODIFIED CARBONS, CONTAINING A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTOF UNIQUE FUNCTIONALITY COVALENTLY ATTACHED TO THE CARBON. THIS FUNCTIONALITY WILL INCLUDE STABLE C-F, C-NR AND C-OR GROUPS. MODIFIED CARBON ANODES WILL BE EVALUATED FOR REGENERATION OF CERIC ION WHICH IS USEFUL IN OXIDATION OF AROMATICS TO COMMERCIALLY VALUABLE PRODUCTS. ALSO TO BE EVALUATED IS PREPARATION AND USE OF TAILOR-MADE "CERIUM ANODES" FOR IN-CELL ELECTROORGANIC SYNTHESIS. OF PARTICULARINTEREST IS THE INDIRECT ELECTROSYNTHESIS OF NAPHTHOQUINONE FROM NAPHTHALENE, ANISALDEHYDE FROM P-METHOXYTOLUENE, AND P-TERBUTYLBENZALDEHYDE FROM P-TERTBUTYLTOLUENE. IN PHASE II, FURTHER CHEMICAL MODIFICATIONS WILL BE EXPLORED AND AT LEAST ONE OF THE MORE PROMISING ORGANIC ELECTROSYNTHESES WILL BE STUDIED IN DETAIL UNDER FLOW CELL CONDITIONS TO BETTER EVALUATE THESE NEW ANODE MATERIALS.