Electrochemical catalysis of redox-neutral organic reactions

Electrochemical catalysis is a useful approach for performing redox-neutral reactions under mild conditions. Via a heterogeneous electron transfer, electrons or holes are first injected into the reactant to induce a chemical transformation. After completion of the chemical step(s), the charge can be returned to the electrode (‘backward electron transfer’) or initiate a chain process in solution. In both cases, only catalytic amounts of charge are required for a full conversion and conceptionally, the induced charge can be understood as a catalyst. In recent years, progress has been made in this field, both in terms of mechanistic understanding and developing new applications. The recent advances in electrochemical catalysis are summarized in this contribution.