Voltammetric studies of the Kolbe synthesis with perfluorocarboxylic acids prepared from hexafluoropropene oxide oligomers

Carboxylic acids prepared from hexafluoropropene oxide CF₃CF₂CF₂O[CF(CF₃)CF₂O]_nCF (CF₃)COOH [n = 0, 2,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-3,6-dioxaperfluorononanoic acid; n = 1, 2,5,8- tris(trifluoromethyl)-3,6,9-trioxaperfluorododecanoic acid], according to voltammetric data, enter the Kolbe reaction both at the Pt anode and at anodes from carbon materials in H₂O-CH₃CN and CH₃OH-CH₃CN solutions. The critical potential appreciably depends both on the anode material and on the solvent composition. Favorable effect of pyridine additions in H₂O-CH₃CN solutions is due to replacement of water molecules from the electrical double layer. The sodium ions exert a negative effect on the Kolbe synthesis.Translated from Zhurnal Obshchei Khimii, Vol. 74, No. 11, 2004, pp. 1842–1846.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Chechina, Sokolov, Tomilov.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.