One-Pot Electrochemical Nickel-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Sp2-Sp3 Cross-Coupling

A one-pot electrochemical nickel-catalyzed decarboxylative sp(2)-sp(3) cross-coupling reaction has been developed using redox-active esters prepared in situ from alkyl carboxylates and N-hydroxyphthalimide tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (PITU). This undivided cell one-pot method enables C-C bond formation using inexpensive, benchtop-stable reagents with isolated yields up to 95% with good functional group tolerance, which includes nitrile, ketone, ester, alkene and selectivity over other aromatic halogens.