Preparative Electrochemistry for Organic Synthesis

This chapter provides an overview of the advances in electrochemistry and electrochemical engineering that have taken place in the last few decades and discusses how these advances could be implemented in the synthesis of organic molecules from conception to the market.The chapter introduces the use of multiscale models, in situ characterization, nanotechnology, microfluidics, and combinatorial chemistry and their impact on expanding the current approach to organic electrosynthesis. Two specific reactions, methanol oxidation in fuel cells and carbon dioxide (CO₂) reduction, have been used to further strengthen the concepts behind some of these modern techniques. It is recommended that the current organic synthesis processes be revisited to evaluate the impact of an electrochemical approach using the aforementioned techniques. This could improve manufacturing, increase process efficiency, and reduce environmental impact and production costs.