Dehydroxylative Arylation of Alcohols via Paired Electrolysis

Nonactivated alcohols along with arene compounds are used in electrochemical dehydroxylative arylation for constructing C(sp(3))-C(sp(2)) bonds. The PIII reagent undergoes single-electron anodic oxidation to form its radical cation, which reacts with the alcohol to produce an alkoxytriphenylphosphine radical. Through spontaneous beta-scission of the phosphoranyl radical, the C-O bond is cleaved to form an alkyl radical species, which couples with the radical anion generated by cathodic reduction of the electron-poor arene to afford the dehydroxylative arylated product.

Automated summary

In this study, nonactivated alcohols and arene compounds were used in an electrochemical dehydroxylative arylation reaction to construct C(sp(3))-C(sp(2)) bonds. The PIII reagent underwent single-electron anodic oxidation and cathodic reduction reactions, resulting in the generation of radical intermediates for the coupling reaction to form dehydroxylative arylated products.