Indirect Electroorganic Reactions (Indirect Electrolysis)

Abstract

A formal definition of direct and indirect electroorganic reactions was given in Chapter 1. The purpose of the present chapter is to provide a fundamental understanding of indirect electrolysis for organic synthesis. In Steckhan’s view [1] indirect electroorganic synthesis is a “modern chapter in organic electrochemistry.” Conceptually, almost any electrosynthesis may be considered feasible by either direct or indirect electrolysis. However, in practice there are some distinct differences between these two general types of electrochemical processes. The practical significance of the difference would depend on the specific goal of the project undertaken and the scale of the process in the laboratory or in the plant. Both direct and indirect electrochemical processes have come into existence since the birth of electrochemical technology. Indirect electrolysis processes have been recently considered from both theoretical and practical perspectives by Steckhan [1] (1986), Alkire [2] (1986) and Pitchaichanarong [3] (1990). We may note that many apparently chemical processes in which redox reagents are used are actually electrochemical processes if we consider that the redox reagents were prepared in some electrochemical cells, although in places remote from the actual place of use. (The scholarly M. Baizer used to call these processes “cryptoelectrochemical”.)