Electrochemical Alkynyl/Alkenyl Migration for the Radical Difunctionalization of Alkenes

An efficient electrochemical 1,2-sulfonylation/alkynylation of alkenes via radical 1,4-alkynyl migration of alkynyl-substituted tertiary alcohols is described, which used sodium sulfinates as sulfonyl sources affording the corresponding alpha-sulfonyl-beta-alkynylated products in moderate to excellent yields. This electrochemical reaction proceeds smoothly without the use of any metal catalyst, additive and oxidant and thus represents a new and eco-friendly strategy for the difunctionalization of unactive olefins, and also the first example of the electrochemical distal radical migration reaction.