Electrocatalytic hydrogenation of benzoic acids in a proton-exchange membrane reactor

Org Biomol Chem. 2021 Sep 14;19(34):7363-7368. doi: 10.1039/d1ob01197a. Epub 2021 Aug 17.

Abstract

The highly efficient chemoselective electrocatalytic hydrogenation of benzoic acids (BAs) to cyclohexanecarboxylic acids (CCAs) was carried out in a proton-exchange membrane reactor under mild conditions without hydrogenation of the carboxyl group. Among the investigated catalysts, the PtRu alloy catalyst was found to be the most suitable for achieving high current efficiencies for production of CCAs. An electrochemical spillover mechanism on the PtRu alloy catalyst was also proposed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't