Electrifying Adipic Acid Production: Copper‐Promoted Oxidation and C−C Cleavage of Cyclohexanol

Abstract

AbstractAdipic acid is a central platform molecule for the polymer industry. Production of adipic acid with electroreforming technology is more sustainable compared to the thermochemical synthesis route. We discovered that incorporation of Cu2+ into a Ni hydroxide lattice significantly improved the electrocatalytic oxidation of cyclohexanol into adipate with a high yield (84 %) and selectivity (87 %). This Cu promotion effect serves as a mechanistic probe that can be combined with product analysis, steady‐state kinetics, and in situ spectroscopy. A two‐electron oxidation into cyclohexanone first occurs, followed by consecutive hydroxylation and C−C cleavage before dione formation. The central role of Cu2+ is to weaken the interaction between the NiOOH and surface‐adsorbed O‐centered radical that facilitates subsequent C−C cleavage. This enables a highly efficient two‐electrode system capable of electroreforming KA oil into adipate and pure H2.