The Oxidation of Alcohols at a Nickel Anode in Alkaline t‐Butanol/Water Mixtures

The oxidation of a range of phenylethanols, benzyl alcohols, and allyl alcohols at a nickel electrode in a series of t‐butanol/water mixtures has been investigated. The alcohols give well‐formed but kinetically controlled oxidation waves at the potential of the Ni II /Ni III surface change, and the limiting current densities are low. The phenylethanols and allyl alcohols give only carboxylic acids in good yields; the benzyl alcohols give a mixture of aldehyde and carboxylic acid although in a good combined yield. The ratio of aldehyde/carboxylic acid can be changed substantially by variation of the hydroxide ion concentration and in some cases the product may be all acid or all aldehyde depending on the electrolysis conditions.