Indirect electrooxidation of crotyl and cinnamyl alcohol using a Ni(OH)2 electrode

The heterogeneous catalytic redox behaviour of the nickel oxyhydroxide electrode surface was investigated with and without crotyl and cinnamyl alcohols using cyclic voltammetry. A comparison of the cyclic voltammograms recorded in the absence and presence of these alcohols confirmed the catalytic oxidation of the alcohols by the surface Ni³⁺/Ni²⁺ redox system at the electrode surface. Preparative scale experiments were also carried out using Ni(OH)₂ electrodes of large surface area and the redox behaviour of the electrode was confirmed by the isolation of crotonic and cinnamic acids with high yield efficiency. The influence of molecular size on the catalytic oxidation process is examined.