Manganaelectro-Catalyzed Azine C-H Arylations and C-H Alkylations by Assistance of Weakly Coordinating Amides

Oxidative C-H functionalization has faced considerable limitations by the need for stoichiometric amounts of chemical oxidants. In sharp contrast, we herein present the merger of electrosynthesis with non-toxic manganese catalysis for oxidative C-H arylations and C-H alkylations with electricity as the terminal oxidant. Mechanistic experimental studies as well as cyclic voltammetry and scanning electron microscopy analysis were suggestive of an initial fast C-H activation. Computational studies highlighted the unique features of manganaelectro-catalyzed C-H arylations for the use of monodentate benzamides, contrasting with ferraelectrocatalysis that remains limited to strongly coordinating N,N-bidentate directing groups.

Automated summary

A new method combining electrosynthesis with non-toxic manganese catalysis was presented for oxidative C-H arylations and C-H alkylations using electricity as the terminal oxidant. Experimental and computational studies confirmed the unique features and reaction mechanism of this method.