Kinetic study of the Hofer-Moest reaction
Abstract
The anodic decarboxylation of acetate ions has been studied potentiostatically, using both a conventional steady-state method, and a novel non-steady state square d.c. pulse technique. The products observed were carbon dioxide, oxygen, ethane, and methanol. Most of the steady state and non-steady state data are explained by a rapid discharge of acetate ions to form methyl radicals which replace an adsorbed intermediate in the oxygen evolution reaction. The methyl radicals are common to the formation of ethane and methyl alcohol. As it is not possible to simulate all the observations by analogue computation, it is suggested that the progressive formation of oxide films with time have also to be taken into account.