Oligomerization, Isomerization and Carboxylation of Alkanes and Alkenes with Galvanostatically Generated Superoxide in the Al/O 2 Electrochemical Cell

Wajdi I. Al Sadat, Lynden A. Archer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Conversion of low-value,but thermodynamicallystable chemical byproducts such as alkanes or CO2to morevaluable feedstocksisofbroad-based interest. These so-calledup-conversion processes are expensive because they requireenergy-intensive and catalytic interventions to drive reactionsagainst thermodynamic gradients.Here we show that thenucleophilic characteristics of superoxides,generated galva-nostatically in an Aluminum/O2electrochemical cell, can beused in tandem with the intrinsic catalytic properties of animidazolium/AlCl3electrolyte to facilely upgrade alkanes (n-decane), alkenes (1-decene), and CO2feedstocks.The alumi-num/O2electrochemical cell used to generate the superoxideintermediate is also reported to deliver large amounts ofelectrical energy and therefore offers asystem for high-energydensity storage and for chemical up-conversion of low valuecompounds.Chronopotentiometry,mass spectrometry andnuclear magnetic resonance were used to investigate theelectrochemical features of the system and to analyze thedischarge products.Wefind that even at room temperature,alkanes and alkenes are facilely oligomerized and isomerizedat high conversions (> 97%), mimicking the traditionallyproduced refined products.Incorporating CO2in the alkanefeed leads to formation of esters and formates at moderateyields (21%)
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2632-2637
Number of pages6
JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition
Volume58
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 25 2019
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Catalysis

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