Electrons, Electrodes, and the Transformation of Organic Molecules

Electrochemistry is an outstanding method for transferring electrons to and from a wide variety of molecules. This chapter presents a review that is aimed at both summarizing recent synthetic advances in the general area of electroorganic synthesis and providing insights into the mechanistic considerations one needs to design reactions on their own. It provides the reader with an overview that focuses on the cathodic reduction of electron-deficient alkenes. It is by no means intended to be comprehensive. When enough of the substrate is consumed so that it cannot satisfy the current that is being passed through the cell, then the potential at the electrode climbs again until it reaches a value consistent with oxidation or reduction of the substrate in solution with the next highest potential. The opposite process occurs at the anode where electrons are transferred from the substrate to the electrode, an event that leads to the formation of cationic intermediates and products.

Robert Francke, Luisalberto Gonzalez, R. Daniel Little, Kevin D. Moeller*

Publication Date: January 17, 2020

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9783527822508.ch79