NOVELTY - An organic compound is prepared by utilizing a polymer electrolyte membrane reactor via Kolbe electrolysis. The reactor design uses gaseous or neat liquid reactants without the use of organic co-solvents, prevents the loss of platinum, and permits the use of oxygen reduction to water as the cathode reaction.    USE - For preparing organic compounds.    ADVANTAGE - The reactor uses a two-sided catalyst coated Nafion 117 (RTM) polymer electrolytic membrane (PEM) simultaneously as the electrolyte and separator, this manner eliminates the need for an additional electrolyte, aqueous solvent, and organic co-solvent. Since gas may be fed directly to the anode and/or cathode, solubilized platinum, formed by oxidation of the anode, is not dissolved or lost in a liquid electrolyte but remain confined within the PEM. Oxygen reduction to water may be used as the cathode reaction. In this manner, energy consumption is less, if the reduction of protons to hydrogen is used as the cathode reaction, and the water by product may be used to hydrate the PEM. The hazards associated with hydrogen evolution at the cathode are eliminated.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Preparation of an organic compound of structure (RCH2--CH2R') (II) from carboxylic acid(s) of structures (RCH2COOH) (I) and (R'CH2COOH) (I') comprises:    (a) introducing (I) and (I') in the vapor state or as neat organic liquids in the absence of an organic solvent to the anode side of a polymer electrode membrane reactor;    (b) supplying, concurrently, an oxygen carrying gas to the cathode side of the reactor;    (c) passing equivalent(s) of electrical current through the polymer electrode membrane reactor resulting in the formation of the compound (II) on the anode side of the reactor and the formation of water on the cathode side of the reactor; and    (d) isolating the compound (II) from the anode side effluent from the polymer electrode membrane reactor.    The organic compound was prepared by reacting compounds (I) and (I') based on the equation, (RCH2COOH + R'CH2COOH + 1divide2O2 to RCH2-CH2R' + 2CO2 + H2O).    R and R' = H, 1-6C alkyl, substituted alkyl, optionally substituted phenyl, aralkyl, or ring-substituted aralkyl.