Indirect Electrooxidation of Halohydrins by a Double Mediatory System of Ru(VIII)/Ru(IV) and [Cl⁺]/Cl^-. Optimization for the Oxidation of 1,3-Dichloro-2-propanol to 1,3-Dichloroacetone

Torii, S.; Inokuchi, T.; Matsumoto, S.; Saeki, A.; Oki, T. Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 1990, 63, 852.

Optimum conditions for the electrooxidation of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol (1) to 1,3-dichloroacetone (2) by using a double redox system of Ru(VIII)/Ru(IV) and [Cl⁺]/Cl^- are elucidated. The electrolysis of 1 in an AcOEt-aqueous NaCl(2:3 v/v) system buffered at pH 2-4 in a divided cell at 0-5 ｡C gives 2 in 98% selectivity toward 1,1,3-trichloroacetone (3) under the current efficiency of 92%.