THE REACTIVITY OF PRIMARY C3-ALCOHOLS ON GOLD ELECTRODES IN ACID-MEDIA - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY BASED ON DEMS DATA

The reaction products of propargyl alcohol (PA), allyl alcohol (AA) an d n-propanol (n-PrOH) at different applied potentials have been invest igated on Au electrodes in 0.5 M H2SO4. On line mass spectrometry (DEM S) reveals that CO2 and acrolein are formed from bulk AA electro-oxida tion. PA electro-oxidation produces CO2 and propargyl aldehyde, and el ectroreduction yields propyne, propylene and AA. No strongly bound int ermediates for AA were detected. PA forms adsorbates which give CO2 an d a C3 hydrocarbon during electro-oxidation and electroreduction, resp ectively. No electrochemical activity could be detected for n-PrOH on Au.