A new hydrogenation process for atmospheric pressure conversion of alpha methyl styrene (AMS) tocumene is described. Formate ion is provided as a proton transfer agent in the reaction which involvesAMS and water in the presence of a palladium catalyst. The bicarbonate ion, a product of the reaction iscontinuously reduced at the cathode of an electrochemical reactor to regenerate the formate. Theinfluence of the emulsifying agent, formate concentration, applied potential and current density, thesolution pH and temperature on the rate of AMS conversion is determined. Up to 96% AMS conversionwas obtained at 60 oC.
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