The document discusses organic electrochemistry and its applications in fine chemicals and pharmaceutical industry. Some key points: 1) Organic electrochemistry enables the production of chemicals like chlorine and sodium hydroxide through processes like the chlor-alkali process. It is also used in aluminum production and synthesis of adiponitrile. 2) Reactions in organic electrochemistry have advantages like reaction economy, direct control of electron energy, and use of electrons/protons as sole reagents. It allows generation of reactive intermediates and inversion of functional group polarity. 3) Early applications included the umpolung benzoin condensation. Industrial processes now include chlor-alkali, aluminum production, and

1. APPLICATIONS IN FINE CHEMICALS AND PHARMACEUTICAL
INDUSTRY
Organic Electrochemistry
Organic Electrochemistry
Presented by
Dr. Narender Rao Somisetti

2. Electrochemical synthesis
Chloro-alkali process
The chlor-alkali process is an industrial process for the electrolysis of sodium chloride. It is the technology used to
produce chlorine and sodium hydroxide (lye/caustic soda).
2NaCl + 2H2O —> 2NaOH + Cl2 + H2
Aluminum production
ADP synthesis
2CH2 =CHCN + H2O → NC(CH2)4 CN +1/2O2
The most successful organic electro synthesis process that has been commercialized is the manufacture of
adiponitrile from acrylonitrile. Adiponitrile (ADP) is a key intermediate for the production of nylon 6, 6 polymers. It is
used for the synthesis of hexamethylene diamine (HMD). 33% of the world consumption is made through
electrochemical synthesis.

3. Organic Electrochemistry: What is it?

4. Organic Electrochemistry: Why?
Reaction economy
Direct control of electron energy via over potential
Electrons/protons are (typically) sole reagents

5. Organic Electrochemistry: Why?
Electrochemistry enables the generation reactive intermediates from simple and
ubiquitous functional groups.
The ability of electrochemistry to expediently invert the intrinsic polarity of common
structural motifs.
The exceptional mildness and selectivity of electrochemical reactions.
The scalability and robustness of electrochemistry.
Exquisite control of chemo selectivity by “dialing in” reaction potentials.
Electrochemistry proffers reactivities and selectivities not within the purview of most
chemical reagents.

6. Organic Electrochemistry: Why?
Synthetic utility
Umpolung chemistry
High, typically predictable, tolerance of functional groups

7. Organic Electrochemistry: Why?
Synthetic utility:
Umpolung chemistry
Umpolung: pole reversal; reversion of polarity; turn-over.
Eg. Benzoin condensation in which Cyanide ion catalyzed dimerization of aromatic and heterocyclic
aldehydes to form α-ketols

8. Umpolung chemistry
Michael Stetter Reaction

10. Organic Electrochemistry: Early Beginnings

11. Organic Electrochemistry: Early Beginnings

12. Examples of industrial organic electro synthesis
processes at commercial scale

13. Electrochemistry Basics

14. Electrochemical Cell Design

15. Electrochemical Cells

16. Organo Electrochemical reactions @ Lab scale
Undivided design Divided design

17. The main advantages of electrochemical processes
• Versatility: Direct or indirect oxidation and reduction, phase separation, concentration or dilution, biocide
functionality, applicability to a variety of media and pollutants in gases, liquids, and solids, and treatment of small to
large volumes from micro liters up to millions of liters.
• Energy efficiency: Lower temperature requirements than their non electrochemical Counterparts and side
reactions being minimized by optimization of electrode structure and cell design.
• Amenability to automation: The system inherent variables of electrochemical processes, for example,
electrode potential and cell current, are particularly suitable for facilitating process automation and control.
• Cost effectiveness: Cell constructions and peripheral equipment are generally simple and if properly designed,
also inexpensive. The backbone of any electrochemical technology is the electrochemical reactor, therefore the
perfect design and scale-up plays an important role in successful of this electrochemical technology.

18. Limitations and challenges
Use in industry still restricted by mechanics of
process – engineering problem
Initial set up costs
Few examples for enantioselective additions or cyclization –
general for radical chemistry

19. Curiosity
Chemistry
Creativity