The overall reaction is: If a mixture of two different carboxylates are used, all combinations of them are generally seen as the organic product structures: The reaction mechanism involves a two-stage radical process: electrochemical decarboxylation gives a radical intermediate, which combine to form a covalent bond.
[2] As an example, electrolysis of acetic acid yields ethane and carbon dioxide: Another example is the synthesis of 2,7-dimethyl-2,7-dinitrooctane from 4-methyl-4-nitrovaleric acid:[3] The Kolbe reaction has also been occasionally used in cross-coupling reactions.
In 2022, it was discovered that the Kolbe electrolysis is enhanced if an alternating square wave current is used instead of a direct current.
[4][5] Kolbe electrolysis has a few industrial applications.
[7] Kolbe electrolysis has been examined for converting biomass into biodiesel[8][9] and for grafting of carbon electrodes.