Organic electrosynthesis is a technology for organic synthesis through electrochemistry.The organic molecules or catalytic media locat on the interface between electricity and solution. It transfer charge, electrical energy, and chemical energy to realize the fracture and formation between bonds.

Compared with traditional organic synthesis technology, it has the characteristics of high energy efficiency and no or less environmental pollution. As a green and effective chemical synthesis method, organic electrochemical synthesis technology has gradually attracted people's attention.

Compared with traditional organic synthesis, organic electrosynthesis has significant advantages:

1) The electrochemical reaction is realized by the reactants gaining and losing electrons on the electrode. In principle, no other reagents are used, which can greatly reduce material consumption and reduce environmental pollution.

2) The electrochemical has a strong selectivity. The reduction of side reactions makes the product purity and higher yield. It will reduce the work of post-processing separation and purification.

3) Control the electrode potential to control the generation of by-products.

4) The response does not require high equipment. Easy to automate. Compared with the complicated reaction operation and supply and demand for traditional chemical methods, Although the equipment and electricity have a high cost, the advantages of electrochemical reactions still outweigh the disadvantages.

5) The requirements of reaction are not harsh. Generally, it can be carried out at room temperature and normal pressure. Usually, heating and cooling are not required.

6) Ideal products can be obtained both in the anode compartment and cathode compartment each.

7) The process flow is simple, and the reaction is easy to control.

8) The electrosynthesis device is versatile, and it can carry out a variety of synthesis reactions in the same electrolytic cell, which is beneficial to shorten the synthesis process in the production of multiple varieties;

9) The electrolysis method reduces the by-product. It solves the environmental protection problems.

10) It is possible to synthesize some chemicals that are difficult to synthesize by usual methods.

In organic electrochemical synthesis, the reaction is completed by the gain and loss of electrons on the electrode. Thus, the following three basic conditions must be met:

1) Continuous and stable direct current power supply

2) Electrodes which satisfy electron transfer;

3) The medium that can complete the electronic transfer.

The most important one is the electrode, which has a great influence on the entire electrolytic synthesis reaction pathway and selectivity. Therefore, research on electrode materials is also a hot spot in organic electrosynthesis in recent years. It is not only the catalyst in the electrochemical process but also the place where the electrode reaction proceeds.

The organic electrochemical electrode reaction usually consists of the following steps:

1) The reactant is transferred from the solution phase to the electrode surface area.

2) The reactant undergoes a certain transformation on the surface of the electrode or in the liquid layer adjacent to the electrode surface, such as surface adsorption or chemical reaction;

3) Electron transfer at the "electrode/solution" interface to produce products.

4) The product undergoes a certain transformation on the surface of the electrode or in the liquid layer near the surface, such as surface desorption or biochemical reaction;

5) The product is transferred from the electrode surface to the liquid phase.

The electrode process of any organic reaction includes three steps 1, 3, and 5, and some also include steps 2, 4, or one of them.

Organic electrochemical synthesis is a green organic synthesis technology, which has made great progress abroad. The use of organic electrolytic synthesis technology can solve the preparation of a variety of organic products. Since the organic electrolysis synthesis has the advantages of less pollution (or even no pollution), high product yield and purity, short process flow, and mild reaction conditions. In recent years, the development of organic electrolytic synthesis in advanced industrial countries in the world has been very rapid. At present, hundreds of organic chemical products have achieved industrial production or pilot-scale production through electrochemical synthesis. The organic electrolytic synthesis industry has attracted enough attention and is gradually applied in high-tech fields and green chemistry.