Electric‐Field‐Induced Organic Transformations

Abstract

Experiments showed that the existence of electric fields in non‐redox processes may alter the catalytic activity, rate enhancement, and selection of organic reactions. It is expected that the interaction between electric fields and chemical reactions will create new avenues for producing materials with desired properties in several chemical disciplines, including synthetic organic chemistry, catalysis, nanotechnology, membrane technology, and enzyme catalysis. Specifically, in this review, we discuss the elegant experimental investigations carried out using the scanning tunneling microscope, the interfacial electric field, and designed local electric fields. The results of these studies are remarkable, leading to new information on the function of electric fields in controlling chemical reactivity and selectivity in different reactions and offering a glimpse of the great potential of electrostatic fields. This article not only presents the core concepts of field‐induced chemical transformations but also illustrates the potential use of electric field catalysis in chemistry and other fields.

Research on Electric Field—Induced Catalysis Using Single—Molecule Electrical Measurement

“…Therefore, using the physical properties of molecules and state control of chemical reactions, applying smaller voltages at both ends of the nanoscale electrodes can lead to more sensitive and efficient, as well as strong, electric field single-molecule electric field catalytic devices [ 72 ]. As of now, study in this field has achieved a series of important results [ 73 ]. However, studies of electric field catalytic processes of single-molecules, especially those related to the internal mechanisms and regulation of different chemical reaction types, are still insufficient.…”

Anion–π catalysis on carbon allotropes

“…The efficient conversion of interfaced substrates 68 and 73 on pristine MWCNTs 3 was of particular interest with regard to catalysis initiated by oriented external electric fields (OEEFs, Figure 9B). The idea of OEEF catalysis has been around for a long time as a promising, bioinspired concept to revolutionize organic synthesis on the broadest sense [32][33][34][35]. Indeed, every chemical transformation can be seen as a directional displacement of point charges, electrons.…”

“…Particularly MWCNTs have the potential to couple anion-π and cation-π catalysis with electricfield-assisted catalysis [14]. While anion-π (and cation-π [15,16]) catalysis, compared to other unorthodox interactions, has been less impactful than expected [3,4,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31], this combination has the potential to revolutionize organic catalysis [32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43]. These high expectations have never been realized for technical reasons.…”

Making the Most of Nothing: One-Class Classification for Single-Molecule Transport Studies

“…In addition, removing unwanted signal from blanks and other traces could also find utility in single-molecule transport experiments used for driving and catalyzing electric field-induced chemical reactions. − These experiments have opened up new avenues for understanding and controlling chemical processes, enabling unprecedented precision in chemical transformations. Consequently, efficient removal of unwanted signal from, for example, starting material could facilitate the automation potential of such experiments.…”