ELECTROLYTIC HYDRODIMERIZATION PROCESS IMPROVEMENT

摘要

ELECTROLYTIC HYDRODIMERIZATION PROCESS IMPROVEMENT In a process for hydrodimerizing an olefinic nitrile, amide or ester by electrolyzing an aqueous solution of the olefinic starting material, quaternary ammonium cations and a conductive salt, formation of hydrogen at the cathode can be substantially inhibited and the current efficiency of the process can be thereby significantly increased by including in the solution a nitrilocarboxylic acid compound such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or a salt thereof. Particularly good results are obtained when the solution also contains a boric acid, a condensed phosphoric acid or an alkali metal or ammonium salt thereof.