Sustainable Electrochemical Strategy for Selective Double Bond Oxidation in the Presence of Aldehyde Groups with Mo─N─O Catalysts

Abstract Selective oxidation of double bonds in aldehyde‐containing molecules is critical for synthesizing multifunctional organic compounds; however, conventional methods struggle to preserve aldehyde integrity due to competitive over‐oxidation. Here, an electrochemical strategy is presented that achieves precise double bond oxidation without aldehyde degradation, using hydroperoxyl radicals ( ^* OOH) generated by a molybdenum‐based catalyst (Mo─N─O). Under mild, energy‐efficient conditions (−200 mA), this approach converts cinnamaldehyde to benzaldehyde with complete conversion (100%) and >99% selectivity, outperforming traditional harsh oxidants. Mechanistic analysis reveals that the tailored coordination environment of the catalyst enhances ^* OOH formation, enabling targeted oxidative activity. The method operates at ambient conditions, eliminates toxic reagents and high energy‐consuming process, and aligns with sustainable chemistry principles. By integrating electrocatalysis with insights from density functional theory, the study establishes a scalable platform for the precise transformation of multifunctional organic molecules, representing a significant step forward in energy‐efficient chemical synthesis.