{
  "abstract": "The deoxygenation of carbonyl compounds and alcohols is an important transformation in organic chemistry but remains challenging with respect to selectivity and resource efficiency. Herein, we present a metal-free electroreductive method for deoxygenation of both compound classes, which involves simple means (undivided cell, galvanostatic conditions) and covers a broad range of substrates in which the carbonyl/hydroxyl groups are each located in benzylic position. Key to success is the use of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) as a solvent, which promotes the formation of readily reducible methyl carbonate intermediates from the respective electrochemically inert alcohols. The in situ-formed methyl carbonate group thus plays a dual role, first as an electro-auxiliary supporting the accommodation of negative charge upon cathodic reduction, and then as efficient leaving group to facilitate formation of carbon-centered radical intermediates. In addition to a comprehensive investigation of the scope of alcohol and carbonyl substrates, including scale-up to the gram level, our work also includes a detailed mechanistic analysis based on cyclic voltammetry, control experiments, and quantum chemical calculations. The study illustrates how electrolyte engineering can be effectively used for steering the selectivity in electro-organic synthesis.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "He Zeng"
    },
    {
      "name": "Zahra Tayebi"
    },
    {
      "name": "Anton Scherkus"
    },
    {
      "name": "Bernd H. Müller"
    },
    {
      "name": "Olga S. Bokareva"
    },
    {
      "name": "Robert Francke",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4998-1829"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fsdyrjbqre8ef.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15008072/v1",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "fsdyrjbqre8ef",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008072/v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1605|Radical Photochemical Reactions"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7204773100",
  "pdf_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/pdf/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008072/v1",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-08-31",
  "publisher": "American Chemical Society (ACS)",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fsdyrjbqre8ef.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:17Z",
      "native_id": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15008072",
      "source": "chemrxiv",
      "url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008072/v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:1605|Radical Photochemical Reactions",
      "subfield": "organic"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Solvent-directed Cathodic Deoxygenation of Carbonyl Compounds and Alcohols",
  "title_text": "Solvent-directed Cathodic Deoxygenation of Carbonyl Compounds and Alcohols",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:17Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fsdyrjbqre8ef",
  "venue": "ChemRxiv",
  "versions": []
}