Sustainable Electrochemical Strategy for Selective Double Bond Oxidation in the Presence of Aldehyde Groups with...

Selective oxidation of double bonds in aldehyde-containing molecules is critical for synthesizing multifunctional organic compounds; however, conventional methods struggle to preserve aldehyde integrity due to competitive over-oxidation. Here, an electrochemical strategy is presented that achieves precise double bond oxidation without aldehyde degradation, using hydroperoxyl radicals (^*OOH) generated by a molybdenum-based catalyst (Mo─N─O). Under mild, energy-efficient conditions (-200 mA), this approach converts cinnamaldehyde to benzaldehyde with complete conversion (100%) and >99% selectivity, outperforming traditional harsh oxidants. Mechanistic analysis reveals that the tailored coordination environment of the catalyst enhances ^*OOH formation, enabling targeted oxidative activity. The method operates at ambient conditions, eliminates toxic reagents and high energy-consuming process, and aligns with sustainable chemistry principles. By integrating electrocatalysis with insights from density functional theory, the study establishes a scalable platform for the precise transformation of multifunctional organic molecules, representing a significant step forward in energy-efficient chemical synthesis.