Organic transformations using electro-generated polyoxometalate redox mediators

The use of electrochemistry in organic synthesis (sometimes termed electro-organic synthesis, or just “electrosynthesis”) is a field that attracting ever-increasing attention on account its ability to deliver reaction outcomes cannot be achieved any other way and potential replace toxic and/or sacrificial reagents with cleanly-generated electricity. In the simplest incarnation an substrate undergoes direct electron transfer electrode type heterogeneous catalysis process. However, such electrochemical processes may suffer from slow kinetics, poor product selectivities lack control over extent substrate, all which can lead sub-optimal outcomes. A distinct, but extremely important, sub-section (so-called “indirect electrolysis”) circumvents these limitations through soluble redox mediator molecules, act as shuttles between bulk solution. advantages indirect electrolysis for number transformations now becoming increasingly clear, typically using either very simple metal salts small molecules mediators. one particular class mediators, polyoxometalates (well-defined, oxide clusters), offers especially wide diversity structures properties could revolutionise synthesis. this review, we provide collation reports describe electro-generated polyoxometalate mediators transformations, focus most recent exciting results.