Alcohols and their derivatives are ubiquitous and versatile motifs in organic synthesis. Deoxygenative transformations of these compounds are often challenging due to the thermodynamic penalty associated with the cleavage of the C−O bond. However, electrochemically driven redox events have been shown to facilitate the C−O bond cleavage in alcohols and their derivatives either through direct electron transfer or through the use of electron transfer mediators and electroactive catalysts. Herein, a comprehensive overview of preparative electrochemically mediated protocols for C−O bond activation and functionalization is detailed, including direct and indirect electrosynthetic methods, as well as photoelectrochemical strategies.

Dedicated to Professor Björn Åkermark on the occasion of his 85^th birthday Published as part of the Bürgenstock Special Section 2018 Future Stars in Organic Chemistry The selective modification of α-amino acids and peptides constitutes a pivotal arena for accessing new peptide-based materials and therapeutics. In recent years, visible light photoredox catalysis has appeared as a powerful platform for the activation of small molecules via single-electron transfer events, allowing previously inaccessible reaction pathways to be explored. This review outlines the recent advances, mechanistic underpinnings, and opportunities of applying photoredox catalysis to the expansion of the synthetic repertoire for the modification of specific amino acid residues. 1 Introduction 2 Visible-Light-Mediated Functionalization of α-Amino Acids 2.1 Decarboxylative Functionalization Involving Redox-Active Esters 2.2 Direct Decarboxylative Coupling Strategies 2.3 Hypervalent Iodine Reagents 2.4 Dual Photoredox and Transition-Metal Catalysis 2.5 Amination and Deamination Strategies 3 Photoinduced Peptide Diversification 3.1 Gese-Type Bioconjugation Methods 3.2 Peptide Macrocyclization through Photoredox Catalysis 3.3 Biomolecule Conjugation through Arylation 3.4 C–H Functionalization Manifolds 4 Conclusions and Outlook

A protocol for stereoselective C-radical addition to a chiral glyoxylate-derived N-sulfinyl imine was developed through visible light-promoted photoredox catalysis, providing a convenient method for the synthesis of unnatural α-amino acids. The developed protocol allows the use of ubiquitous carboxylic acids as radical precursors without prior derivatization. The protocol utilizes near-stoichiometric amounts of the imine and the acid radical precursor in combination with a catalytic amount of an organic acridinium-based photocatalyst. Alternative mechanisms for the developed transformation are discussed and corroborated by experimental and computational studies.

Herein we report the synthesis of mesoporous ruthenium oxide (MP-RuO₂) using a template-based approach. The catalytic efficiency of the prepared MP-RuO₂ was compared to commercially available ruthenium oxide nanoparticles (C-RuO₂) as heterogeneous catalysts for water oxidation. The results demonstrated superior performance of MP-RuO₂ for oxygen evolution compared to the C-RuO₂ with respect to recyclability, amount of generated oxygen, and stability over several catalytic runs.