Electrochemical methods for the generation of carbenes and their analogues

The present review surveys and analyses the results of studies devoted to the use of electrochemical methods for the generation of carbenes, nitrenes, and also dichlorogermylene. The cathodic and anodic processes leading to the formation of these species are considered separately. Attention is concentrated on questions concerning the generation of dihalogenocarbenes in the cathodic reduction of polyhalogenomethanes and of dinitrocarbene in the anodic oxidation of dinitromethylides. In addition, data are presented concerning the possibility of the cathodic generation of carbene and nitrene radical-anions and the study of their properties. The examples of reactions involving electrochemically generated carbenes and their analogues examined in the review indicate that there are realistic prospects for the creation of highly selective processes leading to the electrochemical carbene synthesis.
The bibliography includes 59 references.