A single electrolyzer-making amides and α-ketoamides together: A “sweet fusion” of electrocatalysis and chemocatalysis!

Abstract

Amides and α-ketoamides are ubiquitous in drugs and fine chemicals. A recent study by Li and co-workers¹ reported a modular electrolysis-paired tandem strategy that produces both families of compounds in a single electrochemical setup by combining cathodic CO₂-to-CO conversion with palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylation and anodic iodine-mediated ketoamidation. The system achieves “two birds with one stone” synthesis. This commentary highlights the significance of this study from an electrochemist’s perspective.

Graphical Abstract

This highlights the recent work by Qing Li and co-workers (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 33, e202503440) on the modular synchronous electrosynthesis of amides and α-ketoamides from a broader perspective.