Organic Synthesis Utilizing Electroreduction

Abstract

This article surveys electroreductions of organic compounds from a viewpoint of organic synthesis. The reactions are classified into the following categories.
(1) Simple reduction ; (1) -1 Reduction of aromatic nucleus, carbon-carbon double and triple bonds, (1) -2 Reduction of C= X (X=O, N), (1) -3 Reduction of carboxylic acid, ester, amide, imide, and nitrile, (1) -4 Reduction of C-X (X=halogen, O, N), (1) -5 Reduction of X-Y, (1) -6 Reduction of nitro group.
(2) Dimerization.
(3) Reaction of cathodically generated active species with electrophile ; (3) -1 Alkylation, (3) -2 Acylation, (3) -3 Carboxylation, (3) -4 Anionic chain reaction.
(4) Elimination ; (4) -1 1, 1-Elimination, (4) -2 1, 2-Elimination, (4) -3 1, 3-Elimination, (4) -4 1, n-Elimination.