Kolbe electrolysis

Kolbe electolysis or Kolbe reaction is an organic reaction named after Adolph Wilhelm Hermann Kolbe. The Kolbe reaction is formally a decarboxylative dimerisation and proceeds by a radical reaction mechanism.

As an example, electrolysis of acetic acid yields ethane and carbon dioxide:

CH3COOH &rarr;  CH3COO− &rarr; CH3COO· &rarr; CH3· + CO2

2CH3· &rarr; CH3CH3