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Kolbe electrolysis

Kolbe electolysis or Kolbe reaction is an organic reaction named after Adolph Wilhelm Hermann Kolbe.^[1] ^[2] The Kolbe reaction is formally a decarboxylative dimerisation and proceeds by a radical reaction mechanism.^[3]

As an example, electrolysis of acetic acid yields ethane and carbon dioxide:

CH₃COOH → CH₃COO⁻ → CH₃COO· → CH₃· + CO₂

2CH₃· → CH₃CH₃

References

^ Hermann Kolbe (1848). "Zersetzung der Valeriansäure durch den elektrischen Strom". Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie 64 (3): 339-341. doi:10.1002/jlac.18480640346.
^ Hermann Kolbe (1849). "Untersuchungen über die Elektrolyse organischer Verbindungen". Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie 69 (3): 257-372. doi:10.1002/jlac.18490690302.
^ A. K. Vijh, B. E. Conway (1967). "Electrode Kinetic Aspects of the Kolbe Reaction". Chem. Rev. 67 (6): 623-664. doi:10.1021/cr60250a003.

v • d • e Articles related to electrolysis
Principles of electrolysis	Electrochemical cell • Electrolytic process • Faraday's laws of electrolysis • Half cell • High-temperature electrolysis • Standard electrode potential
Electrolytic processes	Betts electrolytic process • Castner process • Castner-Kellner process • Chloralkali process • Downs cell • Electrolysis of water • Electrowinning • Hall-Héroult process • Hofmann voltameter • Kolbe electrolysis
Materials produced by electrolysis	Aluminium • Calcium metal • Chlorine • Copper • Electrolyzed water • Fluorine • Hydrogen • Lithium metal • Magnesium • Potassium metal • Sodium metal • Sodium hydroxide • Zinc
See also	Electrochemistry • Standard electrode potential (data page)