Harnessing Applied Potential: Selective β-Hydrocarboxylation of Substituted Olefins

J Am Chem Soc. 2020 Jan 29;142(4):1780-1785. doi: 10.1021/jacs.9b13305. Epub 2020 Jan 21.

Abstract

The construction of carboxylic acid compounds in a selective fashion from low value materials such as alkenes remains a long-standing challenge to synthetic chemists. In particular, β-addition to styrenes is underdeveloped. Herein we report a new electrosynthetic approach to the selective hydrocarboxylation of alkenes that overcomes the limitations of current transition metal and photochemical approaches. The reported method allows unprecedented direct access to carboxylic acids derived from β,β-trisubstituted alkenes, in a highly regioselective manner.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't