A Survey of Nonaqueous Conditions for the Anodic Oxidation of N-butyl Alcohol

A survey of nonaqueous conditions for the oxidation of n-butyl alcohol is reported. Oxidation may be effected in the neat alcohol or in moderately dilute solution in acetonitrile. High current yields of butyraldehyde are obtained in the neat alcohol, but in dilute solution n-butyl butyrate is the major product. Lithium fluoborate is superior to lithium nitrate or perchlorate as the supporting electrolyte. © 1976