Phenomenological Classification of Organic Electrode Reactions

Electrode processes are conveniently classified according to the nature of the final product1 and its formal mode of formation, since then the interplay between nucleophile(s) or electrophile(s), substrate, and loss or addition of electron(s) is best expressed. It is upon our ingenuity to choose the correct combination of electrolyte components that the practical success of an electrochemical reaction rests, and therefore the rather formalized classification system to be outlined and exemplified below is the logical point of departure into the maze of mechanistic intricacies of electrode processes. 

From this point of view we can distinguish between the types of reactions listed below, Nu and E+ denoting a negatively and positively charged nucleophile and electrophile,2 respectively, and thus R-E and R-Nu symbolizing respectively substrates for the following anodic and cathodic transformations  

In the following we shall give a brief description, together with representative examples, of these reaction types. In all cases, both cathodic and anodic variants are known. 

1 It is only rarely that a single compound is formed in an electrochemical reaction, and hence product should actually read desired product or product of interest . 

The charges are introduced for simplicity only should it be necessary to denote charged substrates, the symbols R-E - and R-Nu+ can be used. 

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