Reactivity of Halo Sugars on Silver Cathodes

Our extensive research on the reductive electrochemistry of glycosyl derivatives has revealed a remarkable electrocatalytic activity of silver cathodes in the reduction of glycosyl halides, which is strictly related to both the electrode active surface and the reaction medium. The peculiarities exhibited by silver cathodes have been extensively characterised (i) by reactivity studies performed on a wide range of halo sugars by cyclic voltammetry and (ii) by preparative electrolyses leading to the formation of simple and mixed glycosyl dimers and, in the presence of suitable acceptors, of glycosides and glycosyl compounds.