Cathodic Electrolysis: Electroreductive Organic Synthesis

Abstract

Abstract Cathodic reductive electrolysis in organic transformations is used to generate radical anions. These electrochemical reduction reactions are very useful in various carbonyl groups transformation (such as aldehydes, ketones, esters, and amides), new bond formations as well as reduction of saturated and unsaturated molecules. Reductive electrocarboxylation reactions to access various valuable chemicals are one of the important applications of cathodic reductive electrolysis. Herein, we review particularly the electrochemical organic transformation reactions taking place at the cathode. We also discuss how alternative strategies such as paired electrolysis, photo‐electrolysis, and alternating current electrolysis can be used to overcome the limitations associated with cathodic electrolysis and how they will improve sustainable electrochemical transformations.

Keywords

• Reductive electrolysis
• cathodic transformations
• electrosynthesis
• reductive photoelectrocatalysis
• reductive functionalizations