The work undertaken during this action is supported by groundbreaking innovation at the intersection of organic chemistry, electrochemistry, medicinal and process chemistry, and environmental science. The project aims to accomplish landmark achievements in the context of organic chemistry processes, resulting in the following:
• Unprecedented selectivity in the decarboxylation of carboxylic acids towards the synthesis of olefin products. These products offer numerous opportunities for further functionalization, lead to novel structures that cannot be accessed through other methods in the literature, or simplify the synthesis of existing products by shortening synthetic sequences, reducing synthetic costs, or providing scalable routes.
• Feasibility towards the recycling of persistent organic pollutants. This invention is based on the following features:
i) operational simplicity, which implies an inexpensive and scalable experimental setup consisting of an undivided vessel equipped with electricity, graphite as an electrode material, an organochlorine sample, and a solvent.
ii) the recycling of halide waste as innocuous salts (NaCl), achieved by introducing a sacrificial reductant that also serves as a solvent, preventing undesirable halide oxidation even in an undivided setup. iii) alternating current, employed to electrolyze the solution, dissipating local pockets of acidity and basicity throughout the vessel, thereby suppressing undesirable reaction pathways and electrode decomposition.
The method demonstrates optimal performance even in the presence of air and/or moisture, resulting in complete conversion of organochlorine pollutants regardless of concentration, location, and scale. This invention is ready for immediate worldwide application to assist in the remediation of contaminated soil and water.
