* A well-known electrosynthesis is the Kolbe electrolysis, in which two carboxylic acids decarboxylate, and the remaining structures bond together:
* A variation is called the non-Kolbe reaction when a heteroatom (nitrogen or oxygen) is present at the α-position. The intermediate oxonium ion is trapped by a nucleophile, usually solvent.
* Anodic electrosynthesis oxidize primary aliphatic amine to nitrile.
* Amides can be oxidized to N-acyliminium ions, which can be captured by various nucleophiles, for example:
:This reaction type is called a Shono oxidation. An example is the α-methoxylation of N-carbomethoxypyrrolidine
* Oxidation of a carbanion can lead to a coupling reaction for instance in the electrosynthesis of the tetramethyl ester of ethanetetracarboxylic acid from the corresponding malonate ester
* α-amino acids form nitriles and carbon dioxide via oxidative decarboxylation at AgO anodes (the latter is formed in-situ by oxidation of AgO):
* Cyanoacetic acid from cathodic reduction of carbon dioxide and anodic oxidation of acetonitrile.
* Propiolic acid is prepared commercially by oxidizing propargyl alcohol at a lead electrode..