Electrochemical reduction of aliphatic conjugated dienes in the presence of carbon dioxide

A voltammetric and electrolytic study involved in the electroreductive carboxylation of multi-substituted aliphatic coujugated dienes has been successfully conducted. With methyl sorbate as the modal compound, acceptable yields of carboxylation and dimerization were achieved, which were influenced by various reaction conditions such as the supporting electrolyte, cathode nature, current density, charge passed and temperature. A correlation was first established between distinct electronic effects of the dienes and the electrochemical characteristics of their reduction and the distribution law of target products.