title: Paired Electrolysis in the Simultaneous Production of Synthetic Intermediates and Substrates.
abstract: In electrochemical processes, an oxidation half-reaction is always paired with a reduction half-reaction. Although systems for reactions such as the reduction of CO2can be coupled to water oxidation to produce O2at the anode, large-scale O2production is of limited value. One may replace a low-value half-reaction with a compatible half-reaction that can produce a valuable chemical compound and operate at a lower potential. In doing so, both the anodic and cathodic half-reactions yield desirable products with a decreased energy demand. Here we demonstrate a paired electrolysis in the case of the oxidative condensation of syringaldehyde and o-phenylenediamine to give 2-(3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazole coupled with the reduction of CO2to CO mediated by molecular electrocatalysts. We also present general principles for evaluating current-voltage characteristics and power demands in paired electrolyzers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego , 9500 Gilman Drive, Mail Code 0358, La Jolla, California 92093-0358, United States.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Llorente
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Washington University in St. Louis , St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States.
authors.forename: Bichlien H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego , 9500 Gilman Drive, Mail Code 0358, La Jolla, California 92093-0358, United States.
authors.forename: Clifford P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Kubiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Washington University in St. Louis , St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States.
authors.forename: Kevin D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Moeller