TEMPO-Me: An Electrochemically Activated Methylating Agent

J Am Chem Soc. 2019 Sep 25;141(38):15450-15455. doi: 10.1021/jacs.9b08634. Epub 2019 Sep 13.

Abstract

Bench- and air-stable 1-methoxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (TEMPO-Me) is relatively unreactive at ambient temperature in the absence of an electrochemical stimulus. In this report, we demonstrate that the one-electron electrochemical oxidation of TEMPO-Me produces a powerful electrophilic methylating agent in situ. Our computational and experimental studies are consistent with methylation proceeding via a SN2 mechanism, with a strength comparable to the trimethyloxonium cation. A protocol is developed for the electrochemical methylation of aromatic acids using TEMPO-Me.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't