Abstract: A method for preparing metal salts of organic sulfonic acids such as tin alkane sulfonates by electrolysis is described. The method comprises: (A) providing a membraneless electrolytic cell having an upper section and a lower section, and comprising: (i) a metal anode positioned in the lower section of the electrolytic cell, and (ii) a cathode positioned in the upper section of the electrolytic cell, (B) charging to the cell, an aqueous solution of an organic sulfonic acid, (C) passing a current through the cell whereby the metal of the anode dissolves in the sulfonic acid and forms the desired metal sulfonate, (D) accumulating the metal sulfonate in a lower portion of the lower section of the cell, and (E) recovering an aqueous solution of the desired metal sulfonate from the lower portion of the lower section of the cell.

Abstract: A novel process for the continuous preparation of perfluorinated organic compounds by electrochemical fluorination of the parent non-fluorinated or partially fluorinated organic compounds, in which the quantity of charge which the electrolyte can still take up is kept in the range from about 5 Ah per kg of electrolyte to about 600 Ah per kg of electrolyte during the electrochemical fluorination, can be operated continuously over a prolonged period of time without the electrode area-time yield decreasing over time and without the formation of polymeric by products occurring.

Abstract: A process for the production of 2-hydroxy-4-methylmercaptobutyric acid (MHA) by electrochemical carboxylation of 3-methylmercapto-propionaldehyde in an undivided electrolytic cell containing a sacrificial anode, in an aprotic solvent in the presence of a supporting electrolyte. Preferred anode/cathode combinations are Mg/Mg and Mg/carbon. MHA is obtainable in a high yield.

Abstract: A process for the production of 2-hydroxy-4-methylmercaptobutyric acid (MHA) by electrochemical carboxylation of 3-methylmercapto-propionaldehyde in an undivided electrolytic cell containing a sacrificial anode, in an aprotic solvent in the presence of a supporting electrolyte. Preferred anode/cathode combinations are Mg/Mg and Mg/carbon. MHA is obtainable in a high yield.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of chiral 2-aryl or 2-heterocyclyl-propionic acids of the formula wherein the substituents are as defined in the specification.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing silver compounds. The process relates to the preparation of silver compounds of the general formula (I) RSO3Ag  (I) where R is an unsubstituted or substituted, linear or branched, saturated, monounsaturated or polyunsaturated alkyl or alkenyl radical having 1 to 9 carbon atoms or an unsubstituted or substituted aryl radical having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, which comprises subjecting acid of the general formula (II) RSO3H  (II)  where R has the above mentioned meaning, to an electrolytic dissolution of the anode in a membraneless electrolysis cell having metallic silver as anode.

Abstract: A procedure for the generation of organosulfonic acids from solutions of corresponding metal organosulfonate compounds by electrowinning, electrolytically driven hydrolysis or chemically driven hydrolysis is described. Appropriate organosulfonate compounds include the water soluble salts of alkanesulfonic and aromatic sulfonic acids which incorporate metals from Group VIB, VIIB, VIIIB, IB, IIB or VA of the periodic table. The electrowinning and electrolytic techniques described can be applied in divided or undivided cells and can be operated in continuous fashion to provide the greatest efficiency. Hydrolysis based methods can employ either anodic oxidation or oxidation both of which function to oxidize the metal cation(s) present to hydrolytically unstable higher oxidation states.

Abstract: A process is described for preparing onium hydroxides from the respective onium salts and for purifying onium hydroxides in an electrochemical cell. In one example, the present invention relates to a process for preparing onium hydroxides from the corresponding onium salts which comprises the steps of: (A) providing a cell comprising an anode, a cathode and one or more unit cells assembled for operational positioning between the anode and the cathode, each unit cell comprising: (A-1) four compartments defined by, in sequence beginning at the anode, a bipolar membrane, a first divider and a second divider, said bipolar membrane having an anion selective side facing the anode and a cation selective side facing the cathode.

Abstract: An electrochemical method for forming a partial monomolecular layer of a predetermined extent of coverage of a thiolate of the formula, XRS--, therein R can be a linear or branched chain hydrocarbon or an aromatic or the like and X can be any compatible end group, e.g., OH, COOH, CH.sub.3 or the like, upon a substrate such as gold, which involves applying in an electrochemical system a constant voltage preselected to yield the desired predetermined extent of coverage.

Abstract: An improved method for stripping or removing tin or tin/lead plating materials from copper-based alloys is provided. This method is essentially a two-stage process whereby the bulk of the plating layer is removed in the first stage and the remaining intermetallic layer (i.e., the interface between the copper-based substrate and the plating materials) is removed in the second stage. The first stage uses an aqueous etchant solution containing either sulfuric acid and nitric or an alkane sulfonic acid and nitric acid. An aqueous immersion solution containing either sulfuric acid and copper (II) ions or an alkane sulfonic acid and copper (II) ions (which can form complexes with the alkane sulfonic acid such as copper mesylate) is used in the second stage to remove the remaining intermetallic layer. The copper-based substrate, after rinsing with water and is drying (if appropriate), can then be treated using conventional metal-recycling procedures.

Abstract: In a process for an electrochemical treatment of cellulose waste lye, mass transport takes place through a diaphragm or membrane between a cathode chamber and an anode chamber, and optionally through a middle chamber. Cationogenic components are removed from cellulose waste lye containing lignin sulfonates and being located in at least one of the chambers. Lignin sulfonic acids are produced from the waste lye. In an installation for an electrochemical treatment of cellulose waste lye, at least one diaphragm divides at least one reaction vessel into at least one cathode chamber and at least one anode chamber. At least one cathode electrode is disposed in the at least one cathode chamber, and at least one anode electrode is disposed in the at least one anode chamber. The at least one cathode electrode is formed of iron or aluminum and the at least one anode electrode is formed of special steel, in particular V4A steel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention relates to a process for purifying solutions containing a hydroxide compound, including the steps of: (A) providing an electrochemical cell containing an anode, a cathode, a cation selective membrane and an anion selective membrane, wherein the cation selective membrane is positioned between the cathode and the anion selective membrane, and the anion selective membrane is positioned between the cation selective membrane and the anode, thereby defining a feed compartment between the cation selective membrane and the anion selective membrane, a recovery compartment between the cathode and the cation selective membrane, and a water compartment between the anion selective membrane and the anode; (B) charging a solution of an ionic compound at a first concentration to the water compartment, and water to the recovery compartment; (C) charging a solution of the hydroxide compound at a second concentration to the feed compartment; (D) passing a current through the cell to produce the

Abstract: A bipolar electrode useful in bipolar cell stack electrochemical cells where one of the electrode surfaces is patterned with active and relatively inactive areas where the surface area ratio of the active areas of the electrode surface to the total electrode surface is between 1:2 and 1:50. The use of a grid-like pattern of electrocatalytic material over a conductive substrate is preferred. The electrodes can be used for certain redox reactions to favor particular reaction products.

Abstract: Catalyst compounds comprising at least one transition metal having an oxidation number of 0 or 1 and at least one sulfonated phosphine are electrochemically synthesized, by electrolyzing an aqueous solution catholyte (contained in the cathode compartment of any suitable electrolytic cell) comprising at least one transition metal compound and at least one sulfonated phosphine.

Abstract: A process is described for preparing 3-exomethylene cephalosporanic acid derivatives for use in the synthesis of cephalosporin antibiotics such as ceftibuten. The process comprises electrochemical reduction of a compound of the formula (IV) ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.3 is CH.sub.3 C(O)--; ##STR2## is an optional sulfoxide group; n is 2 or 3; R.sup.1 is H and R is H or NHR.sup.2, where R.sup.2 is H or a protecting group selected from C.sub.6 H.sub.5 CH.sub.2 OC(O)--, C.sub.6 H.sub.5 C(O)-- or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy-C(O)--; or wherein R and R.sup.1 together with the carbon atom to which they are attached comprise --C(O)--, and produces the desired 3-exomethylene compounds with low levels of the corresponding 3-methyl tautomers.

Abstract: An electrochemical method for forming a partial monomolecular layer of a predetermined extent of coverage of a thiolate of the formula, XRS.sup.-, wherein R can be a linear or branched chain hydrocarbon or an aromatic or the like and X can be any compatible end group, e.g., OH, COOH, CH.sub.3 or the like, upon a substrate such as gold, which involves applying in an electrochemical system a constant voltage preselected to yield the desired predetermined extent of coverage.

Abstract: An electrolytic process for producing lead and tin sulfonates which comprises applying a DC voltage to an anode and a plurality of cathodes in an electrolytic cell and thereby dissolving lead or tin in an electrolytic solution. The electrolytic cell is partitioned by cation- and anion-exchange membranes into anode and cathode chambers. The electrolytic solution is a solution of an organic sulfonic acid, and the anode is lead or tin. The process reduces contents of radioisotopes such as uranium and thorium to a level of less than 50 ppb, and therefore the coatings formed by solder plating using the lead and tin salts in accordance with the invention show radioactive .alpha. particle counts of less than 0.1 CPH/cm.sup.2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing 3-aminopyridines from 3-nitropyridines, in which the nitropyridines are reduced electrochemically in acidic solution.