Electrochemical oxidation of perfluorovaleric and perfluoro-2-propoxypropionic acids on different electrodes in the presence of unsaturated acceptors

The composition of the products of the additive Kolbe electrosynthesis involving perfluorovaleric and perfluoro-2-propoxypropionic acids and conducted in the presence of butadiene and their current efficiencies are determined by competitive adsorption of the corresponding carboxylates and butadiene at the anode. The perfluoro-2-propoxypropionate anion was the most effective adsorbate in this series. The perfluorovalerate anion was largely displaced by butadiene from the anode. This drastically decreased the current efficiency and led to an anomalously high content of higher telomer homologs among the products of additive electrosynthesis.