Reactivity of halo sugars on silver cathodes

Our extensive research on the reductive electrochem. of glycosyl derivs. has revealed a remarkable electrocatalytic activity of silver cathodes in the redn. of glycosyl halides, which is strictly related to both the electrode active surface and the reaction medium. The peculiarities exhibited by silver cathodes were extensively characterized (i) by reactivity studies performed on a wide range of halo sugars by cyclic voltammetry and (ii) by preparative electrolyzes leading to the formation of simple and mixed glycosyl dimers and, in the presence of suitable acceptors, of glycosides and glycosyl compds.