Electrochemical carbon–carbon coupling with enhanced activity and racemate stereoselectivity by microenvironment regulation

Enzymes are characteristic of catalytic efficiency and specificity by maneuvering multiple components in concert at a confined nanoscale space. However, achieving such a configuration in artificial catalysts remains challenging. Herein, we report a microenvironment regulation strategy by modifying carbon paper with hexadecyltrimethylammonium cations, delivering electrochemical carbon-carbon coupling of benzaldehyde with enhanced activity and racemate stereoselectivity. The modified electrode-electrolyte interface creates an optimal microenvironment for electrocatalysis-it engenders dipolar interaction with the reaction intermediate, giving a 2.2-fold higher reaction rate (from 0.13 to 0.28 mmol h