Renewable Electricity Enables Green Routes to Fine Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals.

Abstract

Syntheses of chemicals using renewable electricity and when generating high atom economies are considered green and sustainable processes. In the present state of affairs, electrochemical manufacturing of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals is not as common place as it could be and therefore, merits more attention. There is also a need to turn attention toward the electrochemical synthesis of valuable chemicals from recyclable greenhouse gases that can accelerate the process of circular economy. CO2 emissions are the major contributor to human-induced global warming. CO2 conversion into chemicals is a valuable application of its utilisation and will contribute to circular economy while maintaining environmental sustainability. Herein, we present an overview of electro-carboxylation, including mechanistic aspects, which forms carboxylic acids using molecular carbon dioxide. We also discuss atom economies of electrochemical fluorination, methoxylation and amide formation reactions.