Electrochemistry of hydrocarbons

Abstract

Hydrocarbons are essential components within organic chemistry. The current chapter presents a panoramic view of the essential electrochemistry guidelines of the main structural families, focused on voltammetric data in aqueous and organic electrolytes. The main electrosynthetic and photoelectrosynthetic processes conducted in recent electrochemical research are divided into oxidative and reductive processes. Several strategies are described to overcome the high potential of electrosynthesis and the drawbacks of conventional synthesis methods, providing an alternative, sometimes with access to new structures with high application potential. The synthesis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is an example of new synthetic routes and applications enabled by electrochemistry. However, more widespread electrochemistry in synthesis still needs to be developed.