Electrochemical Skeletal Editing

Skeletal editing has emerged as a transformative strategy for the direct remodeling of molecular frameworks through selective atom insertion, deletion, or exchange. Through structural remodeling at the molecular core, skeletal editing provides rapid access to diverse and valuable architectures while circumventing lengthy de novo or multistep synthetic routes. In recent years, the merger of skeletal editing and electrochemistry has unlocked entirely new opportunities for sustainable and programmable molecular editing. Thus, protons and electrons serve as traceless redox reagents, enabling distinct reaction manifolds compared with conventional thermal approaches. Moreover, electrochemical activation offers unique advantages, including tunable redox control, reduced chemical waste, and access to reactive intermediates under mild reaction conditions. In this perspective, we highlight recent advances in electrochemical skeletal editing until September 2026, with particular emphasis on electrochemical atom insertion, ring expansion, and ring contraction strategies.