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A practical guide to electrosynthesis

Nature Reviews Chemistry volume 6, pages 275–286 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

Organic electrosynthesis is an old and rich discipline. By exploiting the cheapest and greenest source of electrons, electricity itself, electrolysis has been shown to be a powerful method to perform redox reactions under mild, safe and green conditions. The field is in the midst of a renaissance and there is little doubt that it will become one of the classic methods to activate small organic molecules in the very near future. Nevertheless, electrosynthesis can be rather daunting for a beginner. In this Review, we will guide synthetic chemists through their first organic and organometallic electrosyntheses by reviewing the essential aspects of the field and by sharing practical tips. We will also cover the fundamentals of electroanalytical techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry, since they are powerful methods to investigate mechanisms. Finally, these concepts will be examined in practice through three case studies.

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Fig. 1: An electrochemical cell used for cyclic voltammetry.
Fig. 2: Principles of cyclic voltammetry.
Fig. 3: Simple electrochemical reaction setup.
Fig. 4: Applications of the Kolbe reaction.
Fig. 5: Experimental cyclic voltammograms and proposed mechanism for the oxidation of (p-FC6H4S)2.
Fig. 6: Proposed reaction pathways after electrochemical oxidation of ruthenocene.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (grant EP/s017097/1 awarded to K.L. and M.C.L.) and the University of Greenwich for their financial support.

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  1. School of Science, The University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, UK

    Matthew C. Leech & Kevin Lam

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Correspondence to Kevin Lam.

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Glossary

Potentiostat

An electronic instrument that controls the voltage difference between two electrodes.

Supporting electrolyte

A chemical species that is not electroactive in the range of the applied potentials being studied, which is added to a solvent medium in order to increase its conductivity, ideally without affecting the electrochemical behaviour of the analyte.

Adsorption

The adhesion of a chemical substance (known as the adsorbate) onto a surface.

Diaphragm

Alternatively a membrane or frit, a semipermeable material that allows the flow of ions between the anolyte and the catholyte compartments in a divided cell without mixing the two solutions.

Catholyte

The electrolyte in the presence of the cathode in an electrochemical cell.

Anolyte

The electrolyte in the presence of the anode in an electrochemical cell.

Dielectric constant

A measure of the polarity of an organic solvent and its ability to insulate charge.

Ohmic drop

Also known as IR drop, a potential drop caused by the inherent resistance of the solvent, which can cause shifts in peak potential, reduce observed currents and increase the separation between anodic and cathodic peaks.

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Leech, M.C., Lam, K. A practical guide to electrosynthesis. Nat Rev Chem 6, 275–286 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41570-022-00372-y

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