Question
Which of the following reactions is expected to readily give a hydrocarbon product in
good yields ?
A.
\[RCOOK\xrightarrow[\text{oxidation}]{\text{Electrolytic}}\]
B.
\[RCOOAg\xrightarrow{{{l}_{2}}}\]
C.
\[C{{H}_{3}}C{{H}_{3}}\xrightarrow[h\nu .]{C{{l}_{2}}}\]
D.
\[{{\left( C{{H}_{3}} \right)}_{2}}CCl\xrightarrow{{{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}OH}\]
Answer :
\[RCOOK\xrightarrow[\text{oxidation}]{\text{Electrolytic}}\]
Solution :
Electrolysis of sodium or potassium salt of carboxylic acid gives good yield of hydrocarbon
\[2\,RCOOK\xrightarrow[\text{oxidation}]{\text{Electrolytic}}2\,\underset{\text{Anode}}{\mathop{RCO{{O}^{-}}}}\,+\underset{\text{Cathode}}{\mathop{2{{K}^{+}}}}\,\]
At anode $${\text{2}}\,{\text{RCO}}{{\text{O}}^ - } \to 2\,RCO\dot O + 2\,{e^ - }$$
$$2\,RCO\dot O \to R - R + 2C{O_2}$$
At cathode $$2{K^ + } + 2{e^ - } \to 2K$$
$$2K + {H_2}O \to 2KOH + {H_2} \uparrow $$