Disclosed herein are systems and methods for the electrochemical reductive cross-coupling of sp.sup.2 and sp.sup.3 hybridized carbon atoms. The methods proceed under mild conditions and have a wide substrate tolerance.

The present disclosure relates to a process for preparing a nor-opioid compound wherein an opioid precursor compound is electrochemically N-demethylated. The present disclosure further relates to a process for preparing an opioid antagonist compound, wherein an opioid precursor compound is electrochemically N-demethylated and the thus obtained nor-opioid compound is alkylated again at its secondary amine functional group.

The present disclosure relates to a process for preparing a nor-opioid compound wherein an opioid precursor compound is electrochemically N-demethylated. The present disclosure further relates to a process for preparing an opioid antagonist compound, wherein an opioid precursor compound is electrochemically N-demethylated and the thus obtained nor-opioid compound is alkylated again at its secondary amine functional group.

An electrolytic reactor comprises at least one electrolytic cell with an anode compartment and a cathode compartment separated by a separator, in particular a semipermeable membrane. The anode compartment comprises an inlet and an outlet for anolyte at opposed ends, said inlet and outlet being connected with each other via an anolyte circulation pipe equipped with a storage means for anolyte, an anolyte vessel and at least one adsorption filter for adsorbing molecular impurities. When molecular impurities comes from the cathode compartment through the separator, the electrolytic reactor acts also as a cleaning device for the catholyte.

An electrolytic reactor comprises at least one electrolytic cell with an anode compartment and a cathode compartment separated by a separator, in particular a semipermeable membrane. The anode compartment comprises an inlet and an outlet for anolyte at opposed ends, said inlet and outlet being connected with each other via an anolyte circulation pipe equipped with a storage means for anolyte, an anolyte vessel and at least one adsorption filter for adsorbing molecular impurities. When molecular impurities comes from the cathode compartment through the separator, the electrolytic reactor acts also as a cleaning device for the catholyte.

The disclosure relates to methods of forming a dihydrochalcone using electrocatalytic dehydrogenation. In particular, the disclosure relates to methods of forming a dihydrochalcone electrocatalytically hydrogenating (ECH) a reactant compound over a catalytic cathode in a reaction medium having a non-alkaline pH value, thereby forming a dihydrochalcone product; wherein the reactant compound has a structure according to Formula (I). The method can be used to prepare dihydrochalcone sweeteners, such as, for example, naringin dihydrochalcone and neohesperidin dihydrochalcone. ##STR00001##

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a catalyst compound, which comprises a compound of Chemical Formula 1 below and catalyzes the process of oxidizing 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA):

NiCo.sub.xP.sub.y  [Chemical Formula 1]

(wherein x and y are the molar ratio for Ni contained in the catalyst compound, 0<x<1, 0<y<1).

Described herein are methods for the continuous preparation of 1,2-di(furan-2-yl)ethane-1,2-diol from furan-2-carbaldehyde. The methods can proceed chemically or electrochemically. In certain examples, the methods further comprise the application of a static mixer. The present methods produce 1,2-di(furan-2-yl)ethane-1,2-diol in greater yield, purity, chemoselectivity, and stereoselectivity than traditional batch methods.

Described herein are methods for the continuous preparation of 1,2-di(furan-2-yl)ethane-1,2-diol from furan-2-carbaldehyde. The methods can proceed chemically or electrochemically. In certain examples, the methods further comprise the application of a static mixer. The present methods produce 1,2-di(furan-2-yl)ethane-1,2-diol in greater yield, purity, chemoselectivity, and stereoselectivity than traditional batch methods.

The invention is directed to the to the electrochemical preparation of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) by electrochemical oxidation, comprising a first oxidation step of oxidizing HMF to 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furan-carboxylic acid (HMFCA) in an electrochemical cell, subsequently a first isolation step of isolating HMFCA, followed by a second oxidation step of HMFCA to FDCA.