Electrochemical production of OH. radicals and their reaction with toluene

The reaction between electrochemically generated Fenton's reagent and toluene was studied. The products arising from this reaction system were consistent with a primary hydrogen atom abstraction from the methyl group of toluene to give benzyl radicals.Benzaldehyde was obtained with a current yield higher than 60%; benzyl alcohol was also produced in smaller quantities in some experiments. The dependence of the yields on reagent concentrations, temperature and coulombs passed was examined. On the basis of the experimental results a mechanism is proposed involving peroxy and alkoxy radicals as intermediates.