Beilstein Talk "Electrifying organic synthesis"

Beilstein Talks

The Beilstein Talks are an established addition to the projects of the Beilstein-Institut supporting communication and information in science. These online talks are free to attend; a simple registration is all that is required.

Electrifying organic synthesis

Siegfried R. Waldvogel / Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Germany
September 24, 2026, 4–5 pm CEST

Online live talk

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Introduction

The direct use of electrochemistry for the generation of reactive intermediates can have major advantages over conventional synthetic strategies. Compared to other sustainable approaches such as photochemistry, the overall energetic balance is superior and allows for easily scalable conversions. Less or no reagent waste is generated and new reaction pathways are accessible. In order to exploit these electricity-driven conversions for synthetic purposes and to install unique selectivity, two modern approaches will be outlined:

1) For reaching larger scale in electrochemical conversions, the formation of high-performance oxidizers is an option. Given this versatility, broad applicability is targeted.

2) The installation of several unique molecular entities requires large amounts of reagents; when using electrochemical tools, this can be achieved almost waste-free. This is of particular interest when complex molecules are desired.

The workhorse to identify suitable electrolytic conditions is the electrosynthetic screening approach. This strategy also gives rise to fast optimization and subsequent scale-up. For the technical realization of electrosyntheses, carbon electrodes play a crucial role, ranging from diamond to highly isostatic graphite carbon allotropes.