Electrochemical hydrogenation and oxidation of organic species involving water

Fossil fuel-driven thermochemical hydrogenation and oxidation using high-pressure H₂ and O₂ are still popular but energy-intensive CO₂-emitting processes. At present, developing renewable energy-powered electrochemical technologies, especially those using clean, safe and easy-to-handle reducing agents and oxidants for organic hydrogenation and oxidation reactions, is urgently needed. Water is an ideal carrier of hydrogen and oxygen. Electrochemistry provides a powerful route to drive water splitting under ambient conditions. Thus, electrochemical hydrogenation and oxidation transformations involving water as the hydrogen source and oxidant, respectively, have been developed to be mild and efficient tools to synthesize organic hydrogenated and oxidized products. In this Review, we highlight the advances in water-participating electrochemical hydrogenation and oxidation reactions of representative organic molecules. Typical electrode materials, performance metrics and key characterization techniques are firstly introduced. General electrocatalyst design principles and controlling the microenvironment for promoting hydrogenation and oxygenation reactions involving water are summarized. Furthermore, paired hydrogenation and oxidation reactions are briefly introduced before finally discussing the challenges and future opportunities of this research field.