Cathodically initiated cyclodimerization of trimethyl aconitate

Electrocatalytic functional group conversion-based carbon resource upgrading

The conversions of carbon resources, such as alcohols, aldehydes/ketones, and ethers, have been being one of the hottest topics most recently for the goal of carbon neutralization. The emerging electrocatalytic upgrading has been regarded as a promising strategy aiming to convert carbon resources into value-added chemicals. Although exciting progress has been made and reviewed recently in this area by mostly focusing on the explorations of valuable anodic oxidation or cathodic reduction reactions individually, however, the reaction rules of these reactions are still missing, and how to purposely find or rationally design novel but efficient reactions in batches is still challenging. The properties and transformations of key functional groups in substrate molecules play critically important roles in carbon resources conversion reactions, which have been paid more attention to and may offer hidden keys to achieve the above goal. In this review, the properties of functional groups are addressed and discussed in detail, and the reported electrocatalytic upgrading reactions are summarized in four categories based on the types of functional groups of carbon resources. Possible reaction pathways closely related to functional groups will be summarized from the aspects of activation, cleavage and formation of chemical bonds. The current challenges and future opportunities of electrocatalytic upgrading of carbon resources are discussed at the end of this review.

Electrocatalytic Reduction of C-C π-Bonds via a Cobaltocene-Derived Concerted Proton-Electron Transfer Mediator: Fumarate Hydrogenation as a Model Study

Reductive concerted proton-electron transfer (CPET) is poorly developed for the reduction of C-C π-bonds, including for activated alkenes that can succumb to deleterious pathways (e.g., a competing hydrogen evolution reaction or oligomerization) in a standard electrochemical reduction. We demonstrate herein that selective hydrogenation of the C-C π-bond of fumarate esters can be achieved via electrocatalytic CPET (eCPET) using a CPET mediator comprising cobaltocene with a tethered Brønsted base. High selectivity for electrocatalytic hydrogenation is observed only when the mediator is present. Mechanistic analysis sheds light on two distinct kinetic regimes based on the substrate concentration: low fumarate concentrations operate via rate-limiting CPET followed by an electron-transfer/proton-transfer (ET/PT) step, whereas high concentrations operate via CPET followed by a rate-limiting ET/PT step.

The Probable Mechanism for Silicon Capture by Diatom Algae: Assimilation of Polycarbonic Acids with Diatoms-Is Endocytosis a Key Stage in Building of Siliceous Frustules?

Many organisms including unicellular (diatoms, radiolaria, and chrysophytes), higher plants (rice and horsetail) and animals (sponges) use silica as a main part of skeletons. The bioavailable form of silicon is silicic acid and the mechanism of silicic acid penetration into living cells is still an enigma. Macropinocytosis was assumed as a key stage of the silicon capture by diatoms but assimilation of monomeric silicic acid by this way requires enormous amounts of water to be passed through the cell. We hypothesized that silicon can be captured by diatoms via endocytosis in the form of partially condensed silicic acid (oligosilicates) whose formation on the diatom surface was supposed. Oligosilicates are negatively charged nanoparticles and similar to coils of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). We have synthesized fluorescent tagged PAA as well as several neutral and positively charged polymers. Cultivation of the diatom Ulnaria ferefusiformis in the presence of these polymers showed that only PAA is able to penetrate into siliceous frustules. The presence of PAA in the frustules was confirmed with chromatography and PAA causes various aberrations of the valve morphology. Growth of U. ferefusiformis and two other diatoms in the presence of tri- and tetracarbonic fluorescent tagged acids points to the ability of diatoms to recognize substances that bear four acidic groups and to include them into siliceous frustules. Thus, partial condensation of silicic acid is a plausible first stage of silicon assimilation.

Electrochemically Induced Michael Addition Reaction: An Overview

Due to its high potential for the formation of carbon-carbon bonds, Michael addition reaction is one of the closest reactions to the heart of synthetic organic chemists. Electrochemistry presents a very stimulating and divergent resource for selective oxidation and reduction in organic chemistry, generating activated species, for example radical anions or radical cations. In this review, we try to underscore usefulness of electrogenerated Michael addition reaction with the hope of encouraging synthetic organic chemists to contemplate it, as an efficient and green strategy when it is required in their designed multi-step reaction pathways.

Synthetic Organic Electrochemical Methods Since 2000: On the Verge of a Renaissance

Electrochemistry represents one of the most intimate ways of interacting with molecules. This review discusses advances in synthetic organic electrochemistry since 2000. Enabling methods and synthetic applications are analyzed alongside innate advantages as well as future challenges of electroorganic chemistry.

Electrolysis for the benign conversion of renewable feedstocks

A large variety of C,C-bond forming reactions and functional group interconversions can be achieved by electron transfer. For the conversion of renewable feedstocks, electrolysis has been applied to coupling of radicals generated by anodic decarboxylation of fatty acids and carboxylic acids of carbohydrates. Furthermore, a derivative of L-gulonic acid is converted nearly quantitatively into L-xylonolacton. Trimethyl aconitate from trimethyl citronate is dimerized stereoselectively at the cathode in 72 % yield to a cyclic hexamethyl ester by an inter- and intramolecular Michael addition. Two acetoxy groups are added anodically to methyl conjuenate (obtained from methyl linoleate) to form methyl (E)-9,12-diacetoxy-10-octenoate and methyl (E)-10,13-diacetoxy-11-octenoate in 85 % yield. The primary hydroxy groups in mono- and disaccharides can be oxidized to carboxylic acid groups in good yield and high selectivity by anodic oxidation with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO) as mediator. The results demonstrate that electrolysis is in good accordance with many of the 12 principles of green chemistry.