Electrochemical radical-polar crossover: a radical approach to polar chemistry

Radical-polar crossover (RPC) reaction bridges the gap between one- and two-electron reactivities, thus providing an ideal solution to overcome the limitations of both radical and polar chemistry. In this manifold, organic electrochemistry provides a uniquely facile strategy to access a diverse array of radical intermediates, thus broadening the chemical space of the RPC concept. This review highlights the synthetic advances in the field of electrochemical RPC reactions since 2020, with an emphasis on the substrate scope, reaction limitation and mechanistic aspect. The related RPC reactions are categorized as net-oxidative, net-reductive, or redox neutral transformations.

Automated summary

RPC reaction bridges the gap between radical and polar chemistry, providing a solution to overcome their limitations. Organic electrochemistry offers a facile strategy to access a diverse array of radical intermediates, expanding the chemical space of RPC concept. This review highlights the synthetic advances in electrochemical RPC reactions since 2020, focusing on substrate scope, reaction limitation, and mechanistic aspects.