The present study concerns the electrochemical properties of furfural in aqueous medium on noble (An and Pt) and non-noble (Pb, Cu and Ni) metal electrodes. The anodic and cathodic reactions are investigated by cyclic voltammetry on Au, Pt and Ni electrodes and during prolonged electrolyses on Pt, Pb and Cu in order to find the optimum conditions for a paired electrosynthesis. Anodic reactions are controlled by diffusion in the range of the stability of the solvent (water). Beside these limits, the gas evolution competes with the conversion of furfural. The best conditions for preparative electrooxidation (Ni anode, 0.5 M NaOH, j = 0.8 mA cm(-1)) gave furoic acid in a 80% yield and furfuryl alcohol was obtained by electroreduction in a 55% yield on Cut cathodes at pH 10 and 30 mA cm(-2). (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.