Chinese Journal of Catalysis

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Towards sustainable chemistry: Advances, challenges and opportunities in organic electrosynthesis

Syeda Maria Hashmi b, Yilin Wang b, Nida Rehman a, Xinyi Tan c,*, Javier García-Martínez d, Ume Aiman e, Muhammad Sajid b, Zhenyu Sun a,b,*   

  1. aSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory Incubation Base for Green Processing of Chemical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, Xinjiang, China;
    bState Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, College of Chemical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China;
    cSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing 100081, China;
    dDepartment of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Alicante, E-03690, Alicante, Spain;
    eInstitute of Chemical Sciences, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan
  • Received:2025-06-26 Accepted:2025-10-27
  • Contact: * E-mail: xinyitan@bit.edu.cn (X. Tan), sunzy@mail.buct.edu.cn (Z. Sun).
  • Supported by:
    Joint Funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U24B20201).

Abstract: Organic electrosynthesis is particularly appealing for transformations that would otherwise be challenging because of its intrinsic ability to synthesize extremely reactive species under mild conditions via anodic oxidation or cathodic reduction. It has sparked much attention as an effective, environmentally friendly synthesis tool because it generates less waste, uses fewer chemicals, and often requires fewer reaction steps than previous procedures. The processes that underpin organic electrosynthesis include functional group interconversion and formation of C-C and C-heteroatom bonds (such as C-N, C-O, C-S, and C-H) through a controlled electrode potential. Some of the strategies mentioned as aiding the overall process optimization include the use of indirect electrosynthesis, paired electrochemical processes, and electrochemical microreactors. Furthermore, the use of electrochemical flow reactors has resulted in accurate reaction control and optimization. This review discusses strategic developments in organic electrosynthesis, focusing on fundamental concepts, novel approaches, and future directions for sustainable chemical manufacturing.

Key words: Organic electrosynthesis, Sustainable chemistry, C-C bond formation, C-heteroatom bond formation, Electrochemical flow reactors, Renewable energy, Green chemistry