Potassium Nitrate Mediated Electrosynthesis of Aryl Aldehydes in Homogeneous Medium

As a reliable redox mediator, potassium nitrate was employed in homogeneous electrolysis with CH3CN at room temperature to electrochemically oxidize aryl compounds. The oxidation reactions carried out in an undivided cell that was provided with a carbon anode and a stainless steel cathode, along with the minimum amount of H2SO4 at a current density of 50 mA/cm2. A variety of substituted toluenes and aromatic alcohols were effectively oxidized to the corresponding aldehydes with the maximum degree of selectivity.