Nanotechnology

Cleavage (geology)

Electrode

Organic chemistry

Combinatorial chemistry

Reagent

Transition metal

Engineering

Catalysis

Electrolysis

Physical chemistry

Chemistry

Geotechnical engineering

Materials science

Bond cleavage

Electrolyte

Fracture (geology)

Electrochemistry

Chemical Reviews

Selective C–C bond cleavage under mild conditions can serve as a valuable tool for organic syntheses and macromolecular degradation. However, the conventional chemical methods have largely involved the use of noble transition-metal catalysts as well as the stoichiometric and perhaps environmentally unfriendly oxidants, compromising the overall sustainable nature of C–C transformation chemistry. In this regard, electrochemical C–C bond cleavage has been identified as a sustainable and scalable strategy that employs electricity to replace byproduct-generating chemical reagents. To date, the progress made in this area has mainly relied on Kolbe electrolysis and related processes. Encouragingly, more and more examples of the cleavage of C–C bonds via other maneuvers have recently been developed. This review provides an overview on the most recent and significant developments in electrochemically oxidative selective C–C bond cleavage, with an emphasis on both synthetic outcomes and reaction mechanisms, and it showcases the innate advantages and exciting potentials of electrochemical synthesis.

Electrochemical Oxidation Induced Selective C–C Bond Cleavage