Merging cobalt catalysis and electrochemistry in organic synthesis

Abstract

There is an increasing demand of using the low-cost and sustainable cobalt to replace its noble congeners (rhodium and iridium) as reflected by the recent upsurge of cobalt catalysis in the diverse organic transformations. Since all the redox reactivity of cobalt catalysis highly relies on the capability of the interconversion between their oxidation states (most frequently +1, +2 and +3), electrochemistry perfectly meets such a requirement owing to its outstanding performance in the redox manipulation. In this review, we highlight the recent advances in the merger of cobalt catalysis and electrochemistry in organic synthesis.