Einfluss der natur der alkohole auf den mechanismus ihrer elektrooxidation

The electochemical behaviour of alcohols with different numbers of C atoms and different structure depends strongly on the number of H atoms bonded to the C atom with the OH group. All other structure properties are of less importance. This experimental observations, obtained at platinum in H₂SO₄, leads to a mechanism of anodic oxidation as follows: a preceding dehydrogenation is followed by chemical and/or electrochemical oxidation of the reaction products. Depending on the state of the electrode surface, the dehydrogenation occurs via adsorption or through a chemical reaction with the oxygen coverage of the electrode.The mechanism discussed is not limited to alcohols, but it can be applied to molecules of similar kind (aldehydes, formic acid, etc.) also.