Improving the Selectivity and Efficiency of Synthetic Organic Electrosynthesis

Although electrochemistry is a current focus area in improving the sustainability and safety of chemical manufacturing, electrochemical techniques for synthesis rarely have sufficient selectivity and frequently have low faradaic, product, and energy efficiencies. This paper will discuss the use of biocatalytic systems to improve the selectivity of electrosynthesis followed by a discussion of materials, reactor, and technique strategies to improve the faradaic, product, and energy efficiencies in these systems. Examples will be shown that range from commodity chemical synthesis to fine chemical synthesis to pharmaceutical synthesis with a comparison of the concerns and advantages of electrosynthesis for each chemical industry.