Potassium Nitrate Mediated Electrosynthesis of Aryl Aldehydes in Homogeneous Medium

As a reliable redox mediator, potassium nitrate was employed in homogeneous electrolysis with CH 3 CN at room temperature to electrochemically oxidize aryl compounds. The oxidation reactions carried out in an undivided cell that was provided with a carbon anode and a stainless steel cathode, along with the minimum amount of H 2 SO 4 at a current density of 50 mA/cm 2 . A variety of substituted toluenes and aromatic alcohols were effectively oxidized to the corresponding aldehydes with the maximum degree of selectivity.