A process comprising the following step of formate ester formation: R-H + HCOOH → R-OOCH + H 2 wherein the process is an electrocatalytic reaction performed in the presence of at least one catalyst or at least one pre-catalyst, a formate salt electrolyte and wherein R is a linear or branched, aryl group having between 6 to 18 atoms, alkyl group having between 1 to 20 carbon atoms or alkenyl group having between 2 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein the aryl, alkyl or alkenyl group is optionally substituted with at least one halogen; wherein said at least one catalyst is Q 4 [Co(IV)W 12 O 40 ], Q n [Co(IV)TM(L)W 11 O 39 ] or any combination thereof; wherein Q is an alkali metal cation, an ammonium cation or H + ; TM is transition metal cation selected from the group consisting of: V(IV), V(V), Cr(III), Mn(II), Mn(III), Mn(IV), Fe(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Co(III), Ni(II), Cu(I), Cu(II), Cu(III), Zn(II), Ru(II), Ru(III), Rh(III), Pd(II) and Pt(II); L is aqua, hydroxy, oxo, formate, acetate, acetonitrile, dimethylsulfoxide, halide, nitrate, sulfate, hydrogensulfate, phosphate, hydrogenphosphate, dihydrogenphospate, cyano, thiocyano, nitroso and nitrite; and n is an integer between 2 and 8; and wherein said at least one pre-catalyst is Q 5 [Co(III)W 12 O 40 ] or Q n [Co(III)TM(L)W 11 O 39 ]; wherein Q is an alkali metal cation, an ammonium cation or H + ; TM is transition metal cation selected from the group consisting of: V(IV), V(V), Cr(III), Mn(II), Mn(III), Mn(IV), Fe(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Co(III), Ni(II), Cu(I), Cu(II), Cu(III), Zn(II), Ru(II), Ru(III), Rh(III), Pd(II) and Pt(II); L is aqua, hydroxy, oxo, formate, acetate, acetonitrile, dimethylsulfoxide, halide, nitrate, sulfate, hydrogensulfate, phosphate, hydrogenphosphate, dihydrogenphospate, cyano, thiocyano, nitroso and nitrite; and n is an integer between 2 and 8. wherein the process is an electrocatalytic reaction performed in the presence of at least one catalyst or at least one pre-catalyst, a formate salt electrolyte and wherein R is a linear or branched, aryl group having between 6 to 18 atoms, alkyl group having between 1 to 20 carbon atoms or alkenyl group having between 2 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein the aryl, alkyl or alkenyl group is optionally substituted with at least one halogen; wherein said at least one catalyst is Q 4 [Co(IV)W 12 O 40 ], Q n [Co(IV)TM(L)W 11 O 39 ] or any combination thereof; wherein Q is an alkali metal cation, an ammonium cation or H + ; TM is transition metal cation selected from the group consisting of: V(IV), V(V), Cr(III), Mn(II), Mn(III), Mn(IV), Fe(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Co(III), Ni(II), Cu(I), Cu(II), Cu(III), Zn(II), Ru(II), Ru(III), Rh(III), Pd(II) and Pt(II); L is aqua, hydroxy, oxo, formate, acetate, acetonitrile, dimethylsulfoxide, halide, nitrate, sulfate, hydrogensulfate, phosphate, hydrogenphosphate, dihydrogenphospate, cyano, thiocyano, nitroso and nitrite; and n is an integer between 2 and 8; and wherein said at least one pre-catalyst is Q 5 [Co(III)W 12 O 40 ] or Q n [Co(III)TM(L)W 11 O 39 ]; wherein Q is an alkali metal cation, an ammonium cation or H + ; TM is transition metal cation selected from the group consisting of: V(IV), V(V), Cr(III), Mn(II), Mn(III), Mn(IV), Fe(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Co(III), Ni(II), Cu(I), Cu(II), Cu(III), Zn(II), Ru(II), Ru(III), Rh(III), Pd(II) and Pt(II); L is aqua, hydroxy, oxo, formate, acetate, acetonitrile, dimethylsulfoxide, halide, nitrate, sulfate, hydrogensulfate, phosphate, hydrogenphosphate, dihydrogenphospate, cyano, thiocyano, nitroso and nitrite; and n is an integer between 2 and 8. <EOS>