Greening organic electrochemistry: Harnessing Electrogenerated Bases (EGBs) for sustainable organic transformations

Sbei, Najoua, Rani, Sadia, Rahali, Seyfeddine, Aslam, Samina, Haq, Zia ul, Hardwick, Tomas and Ahmed, Nisar ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7954-5251 2025. Greening organic electrochemistry: Harnessing Electrogenerated Bases (EGBs) for sustainable organic transformations. ACS Electrochemistry 1 (12) , pp. 2648-2679. 10.1021/acselectrochem.5c00342

PDF - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (5MB)

Abstract

Electrogenerated bases (EGBs) are emerging as powerful and sustainable tools in synthetic chemistry, offering cleaner and more efficient alternatives to traditional stoichiometric bases. This Review outlines the fundamental principles of EGB formation and explores their expanding role in enabling diverse and selective organic transformations, including alkylations, trifluoromethylations, Stevens rearrangements, Wittig reactions, esterifications, additions, anionic chain reactions, macrolide formation, polymerizations, C–H deprotonations and functionalizations, condensation reactions, and electrocarboxylation. EGBs efficiently activate substrates bearing labile protons, facilitating the generation of reactive intermediates for key bond-forming steps. These methods enable access to heterocycles, fluorinated compounds, and valuable intermediates relevant to pharmaceutical and materials science. Beyond expanding the synthetic scope, EGBs enhance regio- and stereoselectivity, contributing to greater reaction precision. While batch electrolysis has been widely used, advances in flow electrochemistry offer improved control, safety, and scalability. Innovations such as “ex-cell” reactor designs, where oxidation and reduction steps are spatially separated, further improve efficiency and minimize side reactions. The use of environmentally benign materials─such as electrodes (e.g., magnesium), green solvents, and sustainable electrolytes─significantly influences both performance and sustainability. Despite these advantages, challenges remain including limited substrate tolerance, sensitivity to reaction conditions, and the requirement for specialized electrochemical equipment.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Chemistry
Publisher:	American Chemical Society
ISSN:	2997-0571
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	15 December 2025
Date of Acceptance:	5 November 2025
Last Modified:	16 Dec 2025 08:45
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/183220

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item