Journal Archive

The development of electrochemical routes in the industrial production of organic compounds is beginning to attract considerable interest. Already two large-scale processes are in operation, one producing adiponitrile from acrylonitrile, an intermediate step in the manufacture of Nylon 66, and the other producing lead tetra-ethyl anti-knock compounds. This article reviews the basic electrochemistry involved in this type of synthesis and outlines the great possibilities being opened up by advances in technique, in reactor design and in the development of new types of electrode structures in which platinum and its associated metals will play an important part.