Disclosed is a method for synthesizing β-cyano ketone compound, including steps of (1) adding a α-keto acid and sodium hydroxide to a separator-free electrolytic cell, adding acetonitrile thereto, and dissolving the α-keto acid and sodium hydroxide in acetonitrile by stirring to be uniform, to obtain a dissolution solution; (2) adding an alkene or a derivative thereof, cyanobenziodoxolone, and an electrolyte to the dissolution solution, to obtain a mixed solution; (3) subjecting the mixed solution to an electrochemical reaction by electrifying a cathode of a platinum sheet, and an anode of a graphite electrode to obtain a reacted solution; and (4) after the electrochemical reaction, collecting the reacted solution, adding water thereto and stirring to obtain a mixture, subjecting the mixture to an extraction to obtain an organic phase, drying the organic phase and purifying, to obtain the β-cyano ketone compound.

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.

A method including collecting exhaust gas comprising carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) at a wellsite to provide a collected exhaust gas, separating CO.sub.2 from the collected exhaust gas to provide a separated CO.sub.2, and forming formic acid utilizing at least a portion of the separated CO.sub.2. At least a portion of the formic acid can be utilizing in a wellbore servicing fluid (e.g., a fracturing fluid) introduced downhole via a wellbore. The exhaust gas can be produced during a wellbore servicing operation at the or another wellbore. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.

A method including collecting exhaust gas comprising carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) at a wellsite to provide a collected exhaust gas, separating CO.sub.2 from the collected exhaust gas to provide a separated CO.sub.2, and forming formic acid utilizing at least a portion of the separated CO.sub.2. At least a portion of the formic acid can be utilizing in a wellbore servicing fluid (e.g., a fracturing fluid) introduced downhole via a wellbore. The exhaust gas can be produced during a wellbore servicing operation at the or another wellbore. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.

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.

Disclosed are membrane electrode assemblies having a cathode layer comprising a carbon oxide reduction catalyst that promotes reduction of a carbon oxide; an anode layer comprising a catalyst that promotes oxidation of a water; a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) layer disposed between, and in contact with, the cathode layer and the anode layer; and a salt having a concentration of at least about 10 uM in at least a portion of the MEA.

Disclosed are membrane electrode assemblies having a cathode layer comprising a carbon oxide reduction catalyst that promotes reduction of a carbon oxide; an anode layer comprising a catalyst that promotes oxidation of a water; a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) layer disposed between, and in contact with, the cathode layer and the anode layer; and a salt having a concentration of at least about 10 uM in at least a portion of the MEA.

A gas-phase reduction device for carbon dioxide includes: an oxidation chamber containing an oxidation electrode; a reduction chamber to which carbon dioxide is supplied; a gas reduction sheet that has an ion exchange membrane and a reduction electrode laminated together therein and that is disposed between the oxidation chamber and the reduction chamber with the ion exchange membrane facing the oxidation chamber and the reduction electrode facing the reduction chamber; a conducting wire that connects the oxidation electrode and the reduction electrode; and a heat source that surrounds the reduction chamber.

A system optionally including a carbon oxide reactor. A method for carbon oxide reactor control, optionally including selecting carbon oxide reactor aspects based on a desired output composition, running a carbon oxide reactor under controlled process conditions to produce a desired output composition, and/or altering the process conditions to alter the output composition.