Electrochemical reactions are chemical reactions that involve the transfer of electrons from one species to another. These reactions can be either oxidation-reduction reactions, in which one species is oxidized (loses electrons) while another is reduced (gains electrons), or they can be electrolysis reactions, in which electrical energy is used to drive a non-spontaneous chemical reaction. In either case, the transfer of electrons is what sets these reactions apart from other types of chemical reactions.
Electrochemical reactions
Examples of published literature for Electrochemical reactions
Photo- and Electrochemical Cobalt Catalysed Hydrogen Atom Transfer for the Hydrofunctionalisation of Alkenes
Samikshan Jana1, Victor Jose Mayerhofer1, Christopher Teskey2
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- 1RWTH: Rheinisch-Westfalische Technische Hochschule Aachen, Institute of Organic Chemistry, GERMANY
- 2RWTH Aachen: Rheinisch-Westfalische Technische Hochschule Aachen, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Landoltweg 1, 52074, Aachen, GERMANY
Flow Electrochemistry for the N-Nitrosation of Secondary Amines
Rojan Alia, Dr. Rasool Babaahmadia, Dr. Matthew Didsburyb, Dr. Rebecca Stephensb, Prof. Rebecca L. Melena, Prof. Thomas Wirtha
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- aSchool of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Main Building, Cardiff, CF10 3AT UK
- bBAE Systems, Glascoed, Usk, Monmouthshire, NP15 1XL UK
Alkene reactions with superoxide radical anions in flow electrochemistry
Rojan Alia, Tuhin Patraa and Thomas Wirtha
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- aSchool of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Main Building, Cardiff CF10 3AT (UK)
Two-Step Continuous-Flow Synthesis of 6-Membered Cyclic Iodonium Salts via Anodic Oxidation
Julian Spils1, Thomas Wirth2, Boris J. Nachtsheim1
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- 1Institute for Organic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Bremen, Leobener Straße 7, 28359 Bremen 2School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Main Building, Cardiff CF10 3AT (UK)
Cobalt-electrocatalytic HAT for functionalization of unsaturated C–C bonds
Samer Gnaima, Adriano Bauera, Hai-Jun Zhanga, Longrui Chena, Cara Gannettb, Christian A. Malapitc, David E. Hilld, David Vogtc, Tianhua Tangc, Ryan A. Daleya, Wei Haoa, Rui Zengb, Mathilde Quertenmonte, Wesley D. Beckc, Elya Kandaharid, Julien C. Vantourouta, Pierre-Georges Echeverriae, Hector D. Abrunab, Donna G. Blackmonda, Shelley D. Minteerc, Sarah E. Reismand, Matthew S. Sigmanc & Phil S. Barana
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- aDepartment of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), La Jolla, CA, USA
- bDepartment of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- cDepartment of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- dThe Warren and Katharine Schlinger Laboratory for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- eMinakem Recherche, Beuvry-la-Forêt, France
Sustainable Synthesis of Noroxymorphone via a Key Electrochemical N-Demethylation Step
Florian Sommera,b, Roman Gerber Aeschbacherc, Urs Thurnheerc, C. Oliver Kappea,b, David Cantilloa,b
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- aInstitute of Chemistry, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Heinrichstrasse 28, 8010, Graz, Austria
- bCenter for Continuous Flow Synthesis and Processing (CCFLOW), Research Center, Pharmaceutical Engineering GmbH (RCPE), Inffeldgasse 13, 8010 Graz, Austria.
- bAZAD Pharma AG, Durachweg 15, CH-8200 Schaffhausen, Switzerland
An electrochemical γ-C–H arylation of amines in continuous flow
José A.Fornia, Milena L.Czyza, David W.Luptonb, Anastasios Polyzosa,c
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- aSchool of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia
- bSchool of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
- cCSIRO Manufacturing, Research Way, Clayton VIC 3168, Australia
Supporting-Electrolyte-Free Anodic Oxidation of Oxamic Acids into Isocyanates: An Expedient Way to Access Ureas, Carbamates, and Thiocarbamates
Alessia Pettia, Corentin Fagnana, Carlo G. W. van Melisa, Nour Tanbouzab, Anthony D. Garciaa, Andrea Mastrodonatoa, Matthew C. Leecha, Iain C. A. Goodalla, Adrian P. Dobbsa, Thierry Ollevierb, Kevin Lam*a
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- aSchool of Science, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TB, U.K.
- bDépartement de Chimie, Université Laval, 1045 avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Flow electrochemistry: a safe tool for fluorine chemistry
Bethan Wintersona, Tim Rennigholtza, Thomas Wirtha
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- aSchool of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Main Building, Cardiff, Cymru/Wales, UK
Flow Electrosynthesis of Sulfoxides, Sulfones, and Sulfoximines without Supporting Electrolytes
Nasser Amri1 and Thomas Wirth1
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- 1School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, United Kingdom
Accelerating Electrochemical Synthesis through Automated Flow: Efficient Synthesis of Chalcogenophosphites
Nasser Amri, Thomas Wirth*
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- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
Making electrochemistry easily accessible to the synthetic chemist
Christiane Schotten*a, Thomas P. Nichollsa, Richard A. Bourneb, Nikil Kapurc, Bao N. Nguyena, Charlotte E. Willans*a
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- aSchool of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
- bSchool of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
- cSchool of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Automated Electrochemical Selenenylations
Nasser Amri, Thomas Wirth
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- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
Electroorganic Synthesis under Flow Conditions
Mohamed Elsherbini, Thomas Wirth
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- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, United Kingdom
Continuous-Flow Electrochemical Generator of Hypervalent Iodine Reagents: Synthetic Applications
Dr Mohamed Elsherbini, Bethan Winterson, Haifa Alharbi, Ana A. Folgueiras-Amador, Clina Gnot, Thomas Wirth
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- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT UK
Flow Electrochemical Cyclizations via Amidyl Radicals: Easy Access to Cyclic Ureas
Nisar Ahmeda,b*, Aggeliki Vgenopouloua
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- a School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
- b School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
Efficient Flow Electrochemical Alkoxylation of Pyrrolidine-1-Carbaldehyde
Nasser Amria, Ryan A. Skiltonb, Duncan Guthrieb, Thomas Wirth*a
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- a School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
- b Vapourtec Ltd., 21 Park Farm Business Centre, Bury St Edmunds, IP28 6TS, UK
Application Notes regarding Electrochemical reactions
Application Note 64: Direct electrochemical oxidation of 4- tert-butyltoluene

This application note demonstrates the use of the Vapourtec Ion electrochemical reactor for the direct oxidation of 4-tert-butyltoluene into 4-tert-butyl benzaldehyde dimethyl acetal. After optimization of this key reaction, the desired product was afforded in a yield of 88%.
Read moreApplication Note 63: Electrochemical pathway for cross coupling of organic halides – Csp2-Csp3 bonding

We now present a new application note prepared from work undertaken by New Path Molecular Research Ltd. This research project uses the Vapourtec Ion electrochemical reactor for the reductive cross-electrophile coupling of organic halides, constructing a Csp2-Csp3 bond. After optimization of this key reaction, the desired product was afforded in a yield of 81%.
In 2017, Pfizer revealed a reductive cross coupling reaction to construct Csp2-Csp3 bonds from organic halides in a batch electrochemical system (Perkins, Pedro, & Hansen, 2017). An electrochemical protocol was used to reduce a nickel catalyst (NiII to Ni0 or NiIII to NiII according to literature). In the application note presented by Vapourtec this same reaction is optimised under continuous flow conditions using the Vapourtec Ion electrochemical reactor.
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