The invention discloses an electrochemical synthesis method of 2-phenylpropionic acid with optical activity. The method is characterized by comprising the following steps: mixing 1-
chlorine-1-phenylethane with N, N-
dimethylformamide or
acetonitrile and tetraalkylammonium salt to form an
electrolyte solution, by taking a chiral
schiff base cobalt complex as a catalyst, carrying out electric
carboxylation reaction in the presence of normal pressure saturated
carbon dioxide by using
constant current or constant potential, carrying out rotary
evaporation and extraction on the electrolytic reaction liquid to obtain the 2-phenylpropionic acid with the optical activity. Compared with the prior art, the method disclosed by the invention is simple in process and convenient in operation and has the advantages that the
greenhouse-effect gas
carbon dioxide can be effectively utilized and the
atmospheric pollution is reduced; in the meantime, the conversion of aromatic chlorides and the effective synthesis of chiral matters are realized; the raw materials are low in price and easily available, so that the method is low in cost; a new way is created for the research on the green synthesis of organic matters such as aromatic
carboxylic acid derivatives; the method particularly shows an excellent application prospect in the fields of
agriculture and
drug synthesis and is a process
route with great industrial synthesis value.