Electrochemical transformations of CH-acids

Electroorganic synthesis is an environmentally friendly methodology for the oxidation and the reduction of organic compounds, since dangerous and toxic redox reagents are replaced by electric current, and the overall energy consumption is reduced. Although the electrochemical step is usually just one part of a multi-step sequence, it constitutes a key process for the generation of a variety of reactive intermediates. Therefore, organic electrochemistry often provides interesting and valuable alternatives to conventional synthetic methods and serves as a useful tool for an organic chemist. The unique electrocatalytic cascade and multicomponent transformations of CH-acids are discussed in this review. The review also reflects modern trends in the use of electrochemically induced chain reactions in cascade and multicomponent electroorganic synthesis.