THE ELECTROCHEMICAL REDUCTION OF PHENYLGLYOXYLIC ACID IN A MAGNETIC-FIELD

Because of its potential importance, we have attempted to confirm a recent report that phenylglyoxylic acid (I) may be reduced electrochemically in a magnetic field to optically active mandelic acid (II), with optical yields of the l(+)-II enantiomer as high as 25%. We have found that the complete reduction of I in pH 3.8 buffer solution at a mercury cathode in magnetic fields of either 1400 or 70 500 Gauss led only to optically inactive samples of d,l-II. © 1990.