Cycloalkane-based thermomorphic systems for organic electrochemistry: an application to Kolbe-coupling

The discovery that cycloalkanes can form thermomorphic systems with typical polar organic solvents has led to the development of less-polar electrolyte solutions. Their mixing and separation can be regulated reversibly at a moderate temperature range. The phase switching temperature can be controlled by changing the solvent compositions. While biphasic conditions are maintained below the phase switching temperature, conductive monophasic conditions as less-polar electrolyte solutions are obtained above the phase switching temperature. After the electrochemical transformations, biphasic conditions are reconstructed below the phase switching temperature, facilitating the separation of cycloalkane where hydrophobic products or designed hydrophobic platforms are selectively partitioned. Several polar organic solvents, including acetonitrile, methanol, and pyridine, can be used in this system according to the requirement of the reactions.