Organic Electrosynthesis: From Laboratorial Practice to Industrial Applications

Organic electrosynthesis has received great attention as a powerful green tool for synthesis, affording less waste production, less chemicals spent, and often fewer reaction steps than conventional methods. Functional group interconversion and C-C bond generation by imposition of a proper electrode potential is what lies behind organic electrosynthesis processes. Paired electrochemical reactions, indirect electrosynthesis, electrochemical microreactors, and the use of ionic liquids are some of the highlighted means that contribute to optimization of the overall process. Necessity to use specific organic solvents combined with supporting electrolytes is one of the main limitations to be overcome to make the electrochemical process more economically feasible when compared to nonelectrochemical processes. Numerous examples from the bench scale to industrial routes such as adiponitrile, substituted benzaldehydes, anthraquinone, fluorinated products, and succinic acid production are well described throughout this review.