A simple and inexpensive microfluidic electrolysis cell

A single channel microfluidic electrolysis cell based on inexpensive materials and fabrication techniques is described. The cell is characterised using the electrochemistry of the Fe(CN)63−/Fe(CN)64− couple and its application in electrosynthesis is illustrated using the methoxylation reactions of N-formylpyrrolidine and 4-t-butyltoluene. It is shown that the reactions can be carried out with a good conversion in a single pass. The device, as described, allows the production of several mmol/hour of the methoxylated products.