Electrochemical dicarboxylation of styrene: Synthesis of 2-phenylsuccinic acid

Electrochemical dicarboxylation of styrene in the presence of atmospheric pressure of CO₂ with a Ti cathode and a Mg rod anode readily took place efficiently in an acetonitrile solution containing 0.1 mol•L ^-1 tetraethylammonium bromide to give 2-phenylsuccinic acid. Influences of the nature of the electrodes, the current density, the passed charge and the temperature on electrolysis were studied to optimize the electrolytic conditions, with the maximal isolated yield to be 86.07%. The mechanism of the elelctrocarboxylation process has been studied by cyclic voltammetry.