Electrocatalytic activity of sulfur-modified platinum electrodes: selective electrogenerative oxidation of ethanol to ethyl acetate

Abstract Ethyl alcohol can be converted to ethyl acetate selectively at a reduced sulphur dioxide-treated porous platinum black anode in an electrochemical cell which generates D.C. power. The cell incorporates an acid electrolyte with an untreated porous platinum black/oxygen cathode. The reaction may be general for formation of esters from straight chain alcohols of two carbon atoms and higher. Secondary alcohols are selectively oxidized to ketones. For both oxidations, carbon dioxide formation is eliminated.