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CC BY 4.0 · SynOpen
DOI: 10.1055/a-2744-2506
Graphical Review

Electric-Field-Assisted Organic Synthesis: A New Frontier in Reactivity Control

Authors

  • Huw Chadwick

    1   School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ringgold ID: RIN2112)

  • Georgia Cocking

    1   School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ringgold ID: RIN2112)

  • Johannes Westphäling 

    1   School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ringgold ID: RIN2112)
    2   Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea (the Republic of)
    3   Center for Catalytic Hydrocarbon Functionalizations, Institute for Basic Science, Yuseong-gu, Korea (the Republic of) (Ringgold ID: RIN364806)

  • Rebecca L. Melen

    4   Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  • Thomas Wirth

    1   School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ringgold ID: RIN2112)

Supported by: Institute for Basic Science IBS-R10-A1
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The application of oriented external electric fields (OEEFs) to modulate chemical reactivity-termed electric field catalysis-is emerging as a powerful strategy in synthetic chemistry. Inspired by nature's use of internal fields in enzymatic systems, this approach offers the potential to control reaction pathways, improve selectivity, and reduce energy input. While the theoretical foundations are robust, practical implementation remains challenging, particularly due to difficulties in generating stable, precisely oriented fields at the molecular scale.Recent advances, however, are addressing these obstacles. Notably, the use of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), owing to their nanoscale architecture, electrical conductivity, and chemical robustness, has enabled the creation of electromicrofluidic devices capable of delivering localized electric fields with high spatial precision.Collaborative efforts, including those by the Matile group and our own, have demonstrated the viability of these platforms in catalysis. These developments mark a significant step toward the broader adoption of electric fieldassisted synthesis in organic chemistry.



Publication History

Received: 27 September 2025

Accepted after revision: 07 November 2025

Accepted Manuscript online:
11 November 2025

© . The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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