Electrochemical Oxidative Difunctionalization of Alkenes to Access α-Oxygenated Ketones

J Org Chem. 2021 Oct 1;86(19):13711-13719. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.1c01831. Epub 2021 Sep 15.

Abstract

Dioxygenation of alkenes was developed by the combination of electrochemical synthesis and aerobic oxidation, leading to easy accessibility of α-oxygenated ketones in an eco-friendly fashion. Using air as the oxygen source and the absence of transition metals were the critical features of this protocol. A wide range of alkenes and N-hydroxyimides were found to be compatible and provided α-oxygenated ketones in moderate to high yields.