Selective reduction of acetophenone to 1-phenylethanol in aqueous media

In the cathodic reduction of acetophenone to 1-phenylethanol and 2,3-diphen yl-2,3-butanediol in aqueous media, the effects of electrolytic conditions such as electrode materials, supporting electrolyte, electrode potential an d additives were systematically studied. When the controlled-potential elec trolysis of acetophenone was performed at -2.1 V versus SCE on a Pb plate c athode in water containing both sodium sulfate and cationic surfactants suc h as cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), 1-phenylethanol was selectively formed with current efficiencies of 67-94%. The mechanism for the role of cationic surfactants was discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All righ ts reserved.