Electrochemistry, Kolbe electrolysis

Perhaps the most studied anodic cyclization reaction to date has been the coupling of electron-rich aryl rings to form biphenyl-type ring systems. As illustrated in the example outlined in Scheme 2 [8], these reactions proved to be useful tools for constructing polycyclic ring skeletons. In many cases, the yields of these reactions were superior to the yields obtained for alternative chemical procedures. As with the Kolbe electrolysis reaction, these cyclization reactions were important because they not only demonstrated the utility of electrochemistry for generating a specific type of product, but also paved the way for much of the chemistry that followed. 

Ono Y, Kim S-H, Yasnda M, Nonaka T (1999) Kolbe electrolysis of carboxylates on a hydrophobic plati-nnm electrode composite-plated with PTFE particles. Electrochemistry 67 1042-1045 (Tokyo)... 

One of the strengths of organic electrochemistry is its variety. Already in a simple beaker-type cell connected to a rectifier, one can conduct cotmtless different electrolyses anodic oxidations as well as cathodic reductions. The reactions are as manifold as chemistry itself is manifold thinking only about one of the oldest organic syntheses the Kolbe electrolysis [1] that is utilized till today [2,3] or the versatile anodic substitution [4] or the... 

---