Date- 14-10-2020

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REACTION OF THE DAY

Chemistry
Kolbe’s Electrolysis Reaction
Hydrocarbons containing even number of carbon atoms can be prepared by electrolysis of a concentrated
solution of sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids.
R1CO2K + R2CO2K + 2H2O  R1 — R2 + 2CO2 + H2 + 2KOH
If R1 and R2 are different, the hydrocarbons R1–R1 and R2 – R2 are also obtained. Such mixtures can often be
separated readily. The by products are alkenes, alcohols (particularly in alkaline solution) and esters.
Mechanism
Several mechanisms have been proposed for the Kolbe reaction. The free-radical theory is the one now
favoured. When sodium propionate is electrolysed, n-butane, ethane, ethylene and ethyl propionate are
obtained. The propionate ion discharges at the anode to form a free radical.
C2H5CO2–  C2H5CO2 + e–
This propionate free radical then breaks up into the ethyl free radical and carbon dioxide.
C2H5CO2  C2H5 + CO2
Then
(i) 2C2H5  C4H10
(ii) C2H5 + C2H5  C2H6 + C2H4
(iii) C2H5 + C2H5CO2  C2H5CO2C2H5
Consider another example of Kolbe’s electrolytic reaction.

O O
C ONa C O
Electrolysis
+

Major

 

(1)
 Try Yourself

1. Product obtained by electrolysis of the given compound ‘A’

O

A= C
NH2 OH
O
(1) NH3 + CO2 (2) H–C–NH 2 + H 2

O
O
C–H
(3) H–C–H + NH3 (4) + NH3
C–H
O



Answer of Question Based on Hydroboration-Oxidation

1. Answer (2)

(2)