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Electrochemical side reactions, often referred to as “electrode fouling”, are known to be a major challenge in electro‐organic synthesis and the functionality of modern batteries. Often, polymerization of one or more components is observed. When reaching their limit of solubility, those polymers tend to adsorb on the surface of the electrode, resulting in a passivation of the respective electrode area, which may impact electrochemical performance. Here, matrix‐assisted laser‐desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI‐MS) is presented as valuable imaging technique to visualize polymer deposition on electrode surfaces. Oligomer size distribution and its dependency on the contact time were imaged on a boron‐doped diamond (BDD) anode of an electrochemical flow‐through cell. The approach allows to detect weak spots, where electrode fouling may take place and provides insight into the identity of side‐product pathways., In‐depth understanding of electrochemical side reactions is essential for the optimization of new electrode materials or electrochemical cell geometry. The presented MALDI‐MS imaging approach offers a fast and elegant way to detect electrochemical byproducts on the electrode surface and provides additional information about molecular mass and spatial distribution.

The symmetric biphenol 3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethyl‐2,2′‐biphenol is a well‐known ligand building block and is used in transition‐metal catalysis. In the literature, there are several synthetic routes for the preparation of this exceptional molecule. Herein, the focus is on the sustainable electrochemical synthesis of 3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethyl‐2,2′‐biphenol. A brief overview of the developmental history of this inconspicuous molecule, which is of great interest for technical applications, but has many challenges for its synthesis, is provided. The electro‐organic method is a powerful, sustainable, and efficient alternative to conventional synthesis to obtain this symmetric biphenol up to the kilogram scale. Another section of this article is devoted to different process management strategies in batch‐type and flow electrolysis and their respective advantages., Sustainable scale‐up: Investigations into the electrochemical synthesis of 3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethyl‐2,2′‐biphenol in recent decades are reviewed. An overview of different sustainable synthetic approaches, with a focus on the anodic dehydrogenative homocoupling of 2,4‐dimethylphenol, is provided. Due to technical interest in this outstanding molecule as a ligand building block for transition‐metal catalysis, the scale‐up of electrochemical processes is surveyed, for both batch‐type and continuous‐flow processes up to the technical scale.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C17H20O5, contains two independent molecules, A and B, with similar geometries [dihedral angles between the phenyl rings = 56.19 (8) and 54.98 (7)°, respectively]. Intramolecular O—H...O hydrogen bonds occur in both molecules. In the crystal, the A molecules form [1\overline{1}0] chains linked by O—H...O hydrogen bonds from the hydroxyl group to one of the methoxy O atoms. The B molecules form O—H...O hydrogen bonds to the hydroxyl O atoms of the A molecules and thus act as fixed spacers between the chains of molecule A. Some weak C—H...O contacts are also present.

The electroorganic C,C coupling of phenols to other aryl components is controlled by the fluoroalcohol-alcohol mixture solvents. Classical molecular dynamics and static density functional theory reveal that both kinds of solvents interact with the substrates, influencing the electronic structure of a phenoxyl radical intermediate in a cooperative manner to achieve maximal efficiency and selectivity. Simulations of the electrolyte-electrode interface showed that the substrates adsorb on the diamond surface in such a way that the repulsive fluorous-lipophilic interactions can be minimized and the attractive lipophilic-lipophilic interplay can be maximized, whereas the advantageous hydrogen bonding with the solvent can be retained. Accordingly, the solvent induces efficiency through the interaction of hydrogen bonding and the structure that controls the mesoscopic separation in these fluids. Since these findings are not specific to electrochemistry, by extending this principle to other heterogeneous processes, e.g., catalysis, their rate, yield, and selectivity can be potentially increased as well.