ELECTROSYNTHESIS OF COORDINATION-COMPOUNDS BY THE DISSOLUTION OF METAL ANODES USING LIGAND PRECURSORS

Electrosynthesis of complex compounds by the dissolution of metal anod es is an established method for the preparation of a wide variety of c ompounds in different oxidation states in a single step. The electroly te is an aqueous, nonaqueous or mixed solvent containing the ligand. D uring electrolysis the anode goes into solution and forms a complex wi th the ligand. The latter may also be generated in the electrolytic ph ase by a chemical reaction or by the cathodic reduction of the ligand precursor. A variety of thiolato, xanthato, dithiocarbamato, amine and Schiff base complexes have been synthesized using appropriate ligand precursors. Compounds obtained by anodic dissolution are in normal or lower oxidation states of the metals. The method has been utilized to synthesize some compounds of In(I), Ga(II), Th(II), Mo(II), Cr(II), Ti (III) etc. in a single step. Attempts have been made to synthesize hig her valent compounds by the anodic oxidation of the initial product by a second stage electrolysis using a platinum anode.