PROCESS FOR HYDRODIMERIZING OLEFINIC COMPOUNDS

摘要

PROCESS FOR HYDRODIMERIZING OLEFINIC COMPOUNDS In a process for hydrodimerizing an olefinic nitrile, amide or ester by electrolyzing an aqueous solution of the olefinic compound, an alkali metal salt and quarternary ammonium cations, the selectivity with which the hydrodimer is produced is surprisingly high when the solution contains less than about 5% by weight of the olefinic compound, more than 5% by weight of the alkali metal salt and/or alkali metal cations constituting more than hair of the total weight of all cations in the solution and the solution is electrolyzed in contact with a cathode consisting essentially of cadmium. Even in a cell in which the anode is in contact with the aqueous solution, fouling of such a cathode proceeds very slowly and the hydrodimer selectivity remains high for an exceptionally long time when the cathodic surface has a centerline average not greater than about 90 microinches.