Electrocatalytic asymmetric reduction of ethyl benzoylformate on bimetallic Ag–Cu cathodes

Ag–Cu bimetallic nanoparticles were synthesised and used as cathode materials for the asymmetric electroreduction of ethyl benzoylformate. The reaction induced by cinchonidine was conducted in an undivided cell to produce the optically active ethyl mandelate. We obtained ethyl mandelate with 54% enantiomeric excess and 42% yield under the optimal conditions.