Applications of Organic Electrochemistry in the Preparation of Chemicals and Polymer Intermediates

Abstract

Abstract We have defined electrochemical reactions (oxidation, reduction, coupling, etc.) and processes for potentially obtaining useful fuels, chemicals, and/or polymer intermediates from biomass-derived raw materials. Advantages of electrochemical processing include room temperature reactions, high driving forces, energy efficiency, and operability in relatively dilute solutions. Additional potential advantages are higher yield of desired products, easier separations, higher concentrations of final products (in process solutions), and the ability to “tailor the reaction to produce more of a specific product and/or different products.”