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Isolating Free Carbenes, their Mixed Dimers and Organic Radicals
Published on: April 19, 2019
Hectogram-Scale Synthesis of Carbamates Using Electrochemical Hofmann Rearrangement in Flow
Darryl F Nater1, Rong Zhao2, Johannes Rocker3
1Max-Planck-Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Department of Electrosynthesis, Stiftstraße 34-36, Mülheim an der Ruhr 45470, Germany.
Abstract:
The Hofmann rearrangement of alkyl and aryl carboxamides can be achieved electrochemically on a hectogram scale. The necessary halogen species and base equivalents are generated from sodium bromide in methanol by electrolysis. Both the supporting electrolyte and the solvent fulfill the role of mediator, conductivity-enabling agent, and reaction partners. This electrochemical conversion can be carried out in simple and commercially available plate-frame cells if a simple glassy carbon anode is used. A productivity of 104 mmol per h is obtained with 162 cm2 of anode surface.
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