Themed collection Advances in Electrosynthesis for a Greener Chemical Industry

Rethinking nitration: sustainable electrochemical C-N functionalization. This work reviews diverse inorganic nitrogen sources for fine chemical production, with a perspective on innovative pathways to harness alternative nitrogen sources' potential.

The HCO₃⁻-HCO₂⁻ cycle, where aqueous solutions of formate salts are hydrogen and energy carriers, offers the opportunity of combining electrochemical and thermochemical operations, and of coupling CO₂ capture with energy/hydrogen storage.

The production of fertilisers and food components (carbohydrates, proteins) from the air in artificial-tree-like devices is analysed, focusing on electrosynthesis.

A solvent-controlled electrochemical method for the preparation of commercial herbicide safener mefenpyr-diethyl is established, demonstrating its application potential from screening to hectogram scale.

We show that adipic acid (AA), a major building block for polyamides like Nylon-6,6, can be synthesized from lignin-derived feedstock by combining electrochemical hydrogenation with biotransformation.

We report on a rapid, green, and cost-effective fabrication of nickel(-iron) oxyhydroxides by drop-coating and reconstructing water-soluble nitrate precursors, and their application for the OER and the oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF).

We explain the intricate interplay between electronic properties and reactivity during the electrochemical hydrogenation of biobased unsaturated (di)acids under acidic and neutral conditions.

An electrochemical method has been developed for the synthesis of γ-keto sulfones with a β-quaternary carbon center through 1,2-C migration mediated by sulfonyl under metal- and oxidant-free conditions.

Algal biofuel production via a green bio-electro-Fenton process is a promising alternative to meet global energy demand.

In this work, we describe a composite electrocatalyst for the electrooxidation of ammonia to nitrite and nitrate under ambient conditions as a step towards stable, practical materials for this process.

Microbial electrochemical cells can effectively treat post-hydrothermal liquefaction wastewater with the synergistic metabolism of fermentative bacteria and electroactive bacteria while producing H₂ for biocrude upgrading.

We present a new route for the electrochemical synthesis of green acrylonitrile using the biogenic amino acid D,L-glutamic acid as a substrate by utilising electro-oxidative decarboxylation and non-Kolbe electrolysis.

This work provides deep insights into the structural changes likely to occur at cathodes under highly reducing conditions, such as HER, CO₂, and N₂ reduction, as well as cathodic electro-conversion in various (organic) electrosynthesis reactions.

We report an electrochemical oxidation strategy to synthesize DMF directly from market-surplus trimethylamine and couple it with hydrogen production. The reaction was achieved in an aqueous medium without any mediator using water as the oxidant.

PtRu bimetallic nanoclusters electrodeposited on carbon paper catalysts show highly efficient and uniquely selective electrocatalytic hydrogenation of aromatic rings in benzoic acid derivatives under mild and environmentally-friendly conditions.

We describe the convergent paired electrolysis of methylarene derivatives and 1,4-dicyanoarenes to perform the arylative functionalization of a benzylic C(sp³)–H bond to form 1,1-biarylmethane derivatives.

TNT electro-reduction catalysts can be optimized by tuning O* affinity. A partially reduced Fe₂O₃ (0001) surface may deviate from late transition metal scaling behavior, expanding the design space for TNT reduction electrocatalysts.

Defective cobalt oxide hydrate nanosheets with abundant oxygen vacancies and high porosity were fabricated via room-temperature reductive treatments, and they performed well in the electrocatalytic oxidation reaction of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural.

A series of single metal atom catalysts anchored into N-doped carbon nanosheets are evaluated for H₂O₂ electrosynthesis via oxygen reduction. The Cu/NCNSs exhibits the best catalytic performance in alkaline media with nearly 100% H₂O₂ selectivity.

We herein describe a methodology for the production of organoselenium compounds by electrocatalytic difunctionalisation of alkenes.

An electrochemical electrophilic bromination/spirocyclization of N-benzyl-acrylamides to brominated 2-azaspiro[4.5]decanes with 2-bromoethan-1-ol as the brominating reagent has been developed.

The utilization of Pd- and Pt-containing electrocatalysts for the ring-hydrogenation of furfural and related furans to tetrahydrofurans is investigated.

Using ball milled CNT catalysts, the electrocatalytic reductive amination of keto acids to amino acids was efficiently conducted. Moderate to high formation rates (up to 180.9 mmol g⁻¹_cat h⁻¹) and Faradaic efficiencies (up to 90%) were achieved.