Electrochemical synthesis of adiponitrile from the renewable raw material glutamic acid

Abstract

Current affairs: Adiponitrile, used to produce nylon 6.6, is prepared from the renewable compound glutamic acid by an electrochemical route, involving electro-oxidative decarboxylation and Kolbe coupling reactions. The new route is an example of the use of glutamic acid as a versatile substrate in the transformation of biomass into chemicals. Also, it highlights the use of electrochemical methods in biomass conversion.