Electrochemical Aldehyde Oxidation at Gold Electrodes: gem-Diol, non-Hydrated Aldehyde, and Diolate as Electroactive Species.

To date the electroactive species of selective aldehyde oxidation to carboxylates at gold electrodes is usually assumed to be the diolate. It forms with high concentration only in very alkaline electrolytes, when OH binds to the carbonyl carbon atom. Accordingly, the electrochemical upgrading of biomass-derived aldehydes to carboxylates is believed to be limited to very alkaline electrolytes at many electrode materials.