Abstract: A process is described for the electrolytic reductive coupling of quaternary ammonium compounds to themselves or to other reactive organic compounds.The process comprises(A) providing an electrolytic cell comprising an anode and a cathode;(B) charging into the electrolytic cell, a solution containing at least one of said quaternary ammonium compounds, and, optionally, at least one other organic compound capable of reacting with the quaternary ammonium compound under the conditions of the reaction;(C) passing an electric current through the electrolytic cell to reductively couple the quaternary ammonium compound to itself or to the other organic compound; and(D) recovering the solution containing the coupled product from the electrolytic cell. The process is particularly useful for the preparation of diquaternary ammonium compounds.

Abstract: A process is described for preparing quaternary ammonium and quaternary phosphonium borohydrides in an electrolysis cell which comprises an anolyte compartment containing an anode and a catholyte compartment containing a cathode, the anolyte and catholyte compartments being separated from each other by a divider, said process comprising(A) charging an anolyte comprising an aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium or a quaternary phosphonium salt compound to the anolyte compartment;(B) charging a catholyte comprising an aqueous solution prepared from a quaternary ammonium borohydride or the quaternary phosphonium boron oxide to the catholyte compartment;(C) passing a current through the electrolysis cell to produce the quaternary ammonium borohydride or the quaternary phosphonium borohydride in the catholyte compartment; and(D) removing at least a portion of the catholyte from the catholyte compartment.