Electrocatalytic synthesis of dihydrochalcones

A method of forming a dihydrochalcone, the method comprising:

• electrocatalytically hydrogenating (ECH) a reactant compound over a catalytic cathode in a reaction medium having a non-alkaline pH value, thereby forming a dihydrochalcone product;
• wherein:
• the reactant compound has a structure according to Formula (I):
• each of R1 and R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, OH, and C1-3 alkoxy, or R1 and R2 taken together with the atoms to which they are attached form a 5-6 membered cycloalkyl group or a 5-6 membered heterocycloalkyl group having 1-3 heteroatoms selected from N, O, and S;
• R3 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-3 alkyl, C1-3 alkylene-NRaRb, C0-3 alkylene-PO3H2, C1-4 alkylene-SO3H, C1-3 alkylene-CO2H, C1-5 alkylene-OH, and a saccharide moiety, wherein each alkylene is optionally substituted with one or more of —CO2H, —NH2, —OH, and —SO3H;
• each Ra and Rb is independently selected from the group consisting of H and SO3H;
• X is selected from the group consisting of H, OH, C1-3 alkyl, NH2, halo, and C1-3 alkoxy;
• and,
• Y is selected from the group consisting of H and C1-3 alkyl.