The influence of a non-micelle-forming surfactant on the electrocatalytic hydrogenation of carvone and limonene in aqueous medium at Raney nickel electrodes
The electrocatalytic hydrogenation (ECH) of carvone (1) and limonene (8) at a Raney nickel cathode was studied in aqueous solutions containing a non-micelle-forming surfactant (didodecyldimethylammonium bromide, DDAB). The efficiency of ECH of these substrates was markedly increased compared to that observed previously with micelle-forming surfactants, and this for very low DDAB concentrations, as a consequence of the strong adsorption of DDAB on the electrode. For the ECH of 8 in basic medium (pH 10), the major part of organic compounds (60–95%) was shown to be adsorbed on the electrode surface as an organic layer stabilized by an interfacial film of DDAB. Keywords: electrocatalytic hydrogenation, limonene, carvone, surfactant, emulsions, Raney nickel cathodes.