Selective monocarboxylation of olefins at 12CaO·7Al2O3 electride cathode

•Highly efficient and selective carboxylation of olefins to form monocarboxylic products was successfully achieved using a novel cathode material named C12A7 electride under carbon dioxide atmosphere in a divided cell without sacrificial anode.

Metallic oxide conductor 12CaO·7Al2O3 (C12A7) electride with high affinity to CO2, a new candidate for the cathode material in electrochemistry, is used for the selective monocarboxylaiton of various olefins. The galvanostatic electrolysis was performed under carbon dioxide atmosphere without sacrificial anode in a divided cell. The monocarboxylic products were obtained in moderate to high yield (58−91%), which were significantly higher than those at Pt (9−83%) and glassy carbon (32−72%) cathode.