An electrolytic reactor comprises at least one electrolytic cell with an anode compartment and a cathode compartment separated by a separator, in particular a semipermeable membrane. The anode compartment comprises an inlet and an outlet for anolyte at opposed ends, said inlet and outlet being connected with each other via an anolyte circulation pipe equipped with a storage means for anolyte, an anolyte vessel and at least one adsorption filter for adsorbing molecular impurities. When molecular impurities comes from the cathode compartment through the separator, the electrolytic reactor acts also as a cleaning device for the catholyte.

The present invention relates to regioselective chemical and electrochemical processes for the preparation of an oxidized heterocyclic alpha-amino amide compounds. By applying specific catalysts or catalyst systems during chemical oxidation or by applying particular electrochemical oxidation conditions the present invention provides access to valuable alpha amino amide compounds, which are oxidized at the heterocyclic amino group by regioselective introduction of either a hydroxyl or a keto group. In a more particular embodiment, the present invention describes a chemical oxidation reaction, which advantageously is applicable in the enantioselective synthesis of valuable oxidized heterocyclic alpha-amino amide compounds, like levetiracetam, brivaracetam or the synthesis of piracetam. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a process for the electrochemical recycling of alkali perhalogenate oxidants as spent during said regioselective oxidation reactions of the invention. Still another aspect of the invention relates to the electrochemical preparation of perhalogenates.

The present invention relates to regioselective chemical and electrochemical processes for the preparation of an oxidized heterocyclic alpha-amino amide compounds. By applying specific catalysts or catalyst systems during chemical oxidation or by applying particular electrochemical oxidation conditions the present invention provides access to valuable alpha amino amide compounds, which are oxidized at the heterocyclic amino group by regioselective introduction of either a hydroxyl or a keto group. In a more particular embodiment, the present invention describes a chemical oxidation reaction, which advantageously is applicable in the enantioselective synthesis of valuable oxidized heterocyclic alpha-amino amide compounds, like levetiracetam, brivaracetam or the synthesis of piracetam. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a process for the electrochemical recycling of alkali perhalogenate oxidants as spent during said regioselective oxidation reactions of the invention. Still another aspect of the invention relates to the electrochemical preparation of perhalogenates.

This disclosure provides electrochemically-cleavable linkers with cleavage potentials that are less than the redox potential of the solvent in which the linkers are used. In some applications, the solvent may be water or an aqueous buffer solution. The linkers may be used to link a nucleotide to a bound group. The linkers include a cleavable group which may be one of a methoxybenzyl alcohol, an ester, a propargyl thioether, or a trichloroethyl ether. The linkers may be cleaved in solvent by generating an electrode potential that is less than the redox potential of the solvent. In some implementations, an electrode array may be used to generate localized electrode potentials which selectively cleave linkers bound to the activated electrode. Uses for the linkers include attachment of blocking groups to nucleotides in enzymatic oligonucleotide synthesis.

This disclosure provides electrochemically-cleavable linkers with cleavage potentials that are less than the redox potential of the solvent in which the linkers are used. In some applications, the solvent may be water or an aqueous buffer solution. The linkers may be used to link a nucleotide to a bound group. The linkers include a cleavable group which may be one of a methoxybenzyl alcohol, an ester, a propargyl thioether, or a trichloroethyl ether. The linkers may be cleaved in solvent by generating an electrode potential that is less than the redox potential of the solvent. In some implementations, an electrode array may be used to generate localized electrode potentials which selectively cleave linkers bound to the activated electrode. Uses for the linkers include attachment of blocking groups to nucleotides in enzymatic oligonucleotide synthesis.

Electrosynthesis of oxirane can include contacting a halide electrolyte with an anode and cathode respectively located in anodic and cathodic compartments; supplying olefin reactants into the electrolyte in the anodic compartment, such that the anode generates ethylene chlorohydrin; withdrawing a loaded anodic solution comprising ethylene halohydrin from the anodic compartment, and a loaded cathodic solution comprising OH.sup.- ions from the cathodic compartment; and mixing the loaded anodic solution with the loaded cathodic solution under conditions to react ethylene halohydrin with OH- to produce oxirane. The electrocatalyst can include iridium oxide on a titanium substrate, with the iridium oxide provided as nanoparticles on a titanium mesh, and the electrolyte can be aqueous KCl. The electrocatalyst can define an extended heterogenous:homogenous interface with halide ions acting as a reservoir for positive charges, thereby storing and redistributing positive charges to promote selective generation of ethylene halohydrins.

Electrosynthesis of oxirane can include contacting a halide electrolyte with an anode and cathode respectively located in anodic and cathodic compartments; supplying olefin reactants into the electrolyte in the anodic compartment, such that the anode generates ethylene chlorohydrin; withdrawing a loaded anodic solution comprising ethylene halohydrin from the anodic compartment, and a loaded cathodic solution comprising OH.sup.- ions from the cathodic compartment; and mixing the loaded anodic solution with the loaded cathodic solution under conditions to react ethylene halohydrin with OH- to produce oxirane. The electrocatalyst can include iridium oxide on a titanium substrate, with the iridium oxide provided as nanoparticles on a titanium mesh, and the electrolyte can be aqueous KCl. The electrocatalyst can define an extended heterogenous:homogenous interface with halide ions acting as a reservoir for positive charges, thereby storing and redistributing positive charges to promote selective generation of ethylene halohydrins.

The present invention relates to a novel biocatalytic process for the stereoselective preparation of alpha amino amide compounds catalyzed by NHase enzymes. A further aspect of the invention relates to novel NHase enzymes as well as further improved NHase enzyme mutants, nucleic acid molecules encoding these enzymes, recombinant microorganisms suitable for preparing such enzymes and mutants. Another aspect of the invention relates to a chemo-biocatalytic process for the preparation of lactam compounds comprising the new catalytic process for the preparation of alpha amino amide compounds catalyzed by NHase enzymes, as well as the chemical oxidation of the alpha amino amide by applying certain chemical oxidation catalysts suitable for converting the alpha amino amide under retention of its stereochemical configuration to the respective lactam. The novel chemo-biocatalytic process is particularly suited for the synthesis of valuable pharmaceutical compounds, like in particular (S)-Levetiracetam.

Electrochemical cells and photoelectrochemical cells for the reduction of furfurals are provided. Also provided are methods of using the cells to carry out the reduction reactions. Using the cells and methods, furfurals can be converted into furan alcohols or linear ketones.

Electrochemical cells and photoelectrochemical cells for the reduction of furfurals are provided. Also provided are methods of using the cells to carry out the reduction reactions. Using the cells and methods, furfurals can be converted into furan alcohols or linear ketones.