Application of the spe method to organic electrochemistry—II. Electrochemical hydrogenation of olefinic double bonds

The electrochemical hydrogenation of some olefinic compounds in both polar and non-polar solvent was undertaken to confirm the feasibility of the spe electrolysis method. The olefinic double bonds of cyclo-octene, α-methyl stylene and diethyl maleate were electrochemically hydrogenated on spe composite electrodes in n-hexane without the need to add supporting electrolyte. The location of the hydrogenation reaction sites was also discussed by using Auspe, AuPtspe, Ptspe and PtAuspe composite electrodes and it was revealed that the reaction took place on the solution side of the spe composite.