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Electrochemistry is a clean and convenient method for the generation on a preparative scale of many reactive intermediates (radical-ions, radicals, carbanions, carbocations, quinodimethanes). This forms the basis of organic electrosynthesis and conditions have been devised for selective and useful chemical conversions. Particularly useful and versatile are carbon-carbon bond forming reactions such as those involving the Kolbe reaction, electrohydrodimerisations and N-acyliminium cations. The in situ electrogeneration and regeneration of redox reagents in non-stoichiometric amounts, and the related redox catalysis, is proving to be an attractive, indirect, electrosynthetic approach. And mechanistic insight into useful preparative reactions is now at an advanced stage.
James H. P. Utley (1997) studied this question.