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Esters to Carboxylic Acids: Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis

Esters to Carboxylic Acids: Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis

Hydrolysis of esters under acidic conditions proceeds through a nucleophilic acyl substitution. In the presence of excess water, the reaction proceeds in a reversible manner, forming carboxylic acids and alcohols.
During hydrolysis, the ester is first activated towards nucleophilic attack through the protonation of the carboxyl oxygen atom by the acid catalyst. The protonation makes the ester carbonyl carbon more electrophilic. In the next step, water acts as a nucleophile and adds to the...

Oxidation of Alkenes: Anti Dihydroxylation with Peroxy Acids

Oxidation of Alkenes: Anti Dihydroxylation with Peroxy Acids

Diols are compounds with two hydroxyl groups. In addition to syn dihydroxylation, diols can also be synthesized through the process of anti dihydroxylation. The process involves treating an alkene with a peroxycarboxylic acid to form an epoxide. Epoxides are highly strained three-membered rings with oxygen and two carbons occupying the corners of an equilateral triangle. This step is followed by ring-opening of the epoxide in the presence of an aqueous acid to give a trans diol.

Acid Halides to Carboxylic Acids: Hydrolysis

Acid Halides to Carboxylic Acids: Hydrolysis

Hydrolysis of acid halides is a nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction in which acid halides react with water to give carboxylic acids. The reaction occurs readily and does not require acid or a base catalyst.
As shown below, the mechanism involves a nucleophilic attack by water at the carbonyl carbon to form a tetrahedral intermediate. This is followed by the reformation of the carbon–oxygen π bond along with the departure of a halide ion. A final proton transfer step yields carboxylic...

Acid-Catalyzed Ring-Opening of Epoxides

Acid-Catalyzed Ring-Opening of Epoxides

Epoxides that are three-membered ring systems are more reactive than other cyclic and acyclic ethers. The high reactivity of epoxides originates from the strain present in the ring. This ring strain acts as a driving force for epoxides to undergo ring-opening reactions either with halogen acids or weak nucleophiles in the presence of mild acid. The acid catalyst converts the epoxide oxygen, a poor leaving group, into an oxonium ion, a better leaving group, making the reaction feasible. The...

Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide

Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide

Alkenes are converted to 1,2-diols or glycols through a process called dihydroxylation. It involves the addition of two hydroxyl groups across the double bond with two different stereochemical approaches, namely anti and syn. Dihydroxylation using osmium tetroxide progresses with syn stereochemistry.

Catalysis

Catalysis

The presence of a catalyst affects the rate of a chemical reaction. A catalyst is a substance that can increase the reaction rate without being consumed during the process. A basic comprehension of a catalysts’ role during chemical reactions can be understood from the concept of reaction mechanisms and energy diagrams.

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Updated: Jun 9, 2025

Hydrogen Production and Utilization in a Membrane Reactor

Hydrogen Production and Utilization in a Membrane Reactor

Published on: March 10, 2023

Hydrogen Peroxide Electrosynthesis in a Strong Acidic Environment Using Cationic Surfactants.

Zachary Adler¹, Xiao Zhang¹, Guangxia Feng²

¹Rice University, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.

Precision Chemistry

|October 30, 2024

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Surfactants enhance hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production selectivity using carbon black catalysts in acidic electrolytes. This strategy improves H2O2 selectivity by over 8-fold, offering a greener production method.

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Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation

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Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation

Published on: May 22, 2016

Area of Science:

Electrochemistry
Materials Science
Green Chemistry

Background:

The two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e^--ORR) is key for green hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) synthesis.
Non-noble metal catalysts exhibit low H₂O₂ selectivity in acidic electrolytes.

Purpose of the Study:

To enhance H₂O₂ selectivity for the 2e^--ORR using a low-cost catalyst in acidic media.
To investigate the role of surfactant micellization in improving catalyst performance.

Main Methods:

Utilized a carbon black catalyst modified with surfactants in strong acid electrolytes.
Employed in situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and optical microscopy (OM) for mechanistic studies.
Investigated the effect of surfactant concentration on H₂O₂ Faradaic efficiency (FE).

Main Results:

Achieved an 8-fold improvement in H₂O₂ selectivity, increasing FE from 12% to 95% at 200 mA cm^-2.
Surfactants increased oxygen solubility and transport while displacing protons from the electric double layer (EDL).
Micelle formation by surfactants promoted O₂ gas transport and local proton displacement, enhancing selectivity.

Conclusions:

Surfactant-induced micellization is an effective strategy to boost H₂O₂ selectivity for the 2e^--ORR with non-noble metal catalysts.
This bio-inspired approach offers a promising route for efficient and green H₂O₂ production.
Understanding the interplay between surfactants, EDL, and gas transport is crucial for catalyst design.