An Electrochemical Screening Reactor Kit for Rapid Optimization of Electrosynthesis Applications.

Electrosynthetic processes powered by renewable energy present a viable solution to decarbonize the chemical industry, while producing essential chemical products for modern society. However, replacing well-established thermocatalytic methods with renewable-powered electrosynthesis requires cost-efficient and highly optimized systems. Current optimization of electrolysis conditions towards industrial applications involving scalable electrodes is time-consuming, highlighting the necessity for the development of electrochemical setups aimed at rapid and material efficient testing.

Electroplated Electrodes for Continuous and Mass-Efficient Electrochemical Hydrogenation.

Electrocatalytic hydrogenations (ECH) enable the reduction of organic substrates upon usage of electric current and present a sustainable alternative to conventional processes if green electricity is used. Opposed to most current protocols for electrode preparation, this work presents a one-step binder- and additive-free production of silver- and copper-electroplated electrodes. Controlled adjustment of the preparation parameters allows for the tuning of catalyst morphology and its electrochemical properties.

Developing electrochemical hydrogenation towards industrial application.

Electrochemical hydrogenation reactions gained significant attention as a sustainable and efficient alternative to conventional thermocatalytic hydrogenations. This tutorial review provides a comprehensive overview of the basic principles, the practical application, and recent advances of electrochemical hydrogenation reactions, with a particular emphasis on the translation of these reactions from lab-scale to industrial applications. Giving an overview on the vast amount of conceivable organic substrates and tested catalysts, we highlight the challenges associated with upscaling electrochemical hydrogenations, such as mass transfer limitations and reactor design.

Opening the pathway towards a scalable electrochemical semi-hydrogenation of alkynols earth-abundant metal chalcogenides.

Electrosynthetic methods are crucial for a future sustainable transformation of the chemical industry. Being an integral part of many synthetic pathways, the electrification of hydrogenation reactions gained increasing interest in recent years. However, for the large-scale industrial application of electrochemical hydrogenations, low-resistance zero-gap electrolysers operating at high current densities and high substrate concentrations, ideally applying noble-metal-free catalyst systems, are required.

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Ylide-substituted phosphines have been shown to be excellent ligands for C-N coupling reactions under mild reaction conditions. Here we report studies on the impact of the steric demand of the substituent in the ylide-backbone on the catalytic activity. Two new YPhos ligands with bulky -tolyl (pinkYPhos) and mesityl (mesYPhos) substituents were synthesized, which are slightly more sterically demanding than their phenyl analogue but considerably less flexible.