Electrochemical reduction of carbonyl groups is a promising sustainable route for converting biomass-based compounds into value-added products. Here, the authors investigate the electrochemical reduction of the model reactants formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acetone on single-site M–N–C catalysts (M = Fe, Co and Ni), gaining mechanistic insight into the role that the nature of the metal center plays on the selectivity of these carbonyl reduction reactions.
- Wen Ju
- Alexander Bagger
- Peter Strasser
