Electrochemical dehydrogenative cross-coupling of two anilines: facile synthesis of unsymmetrical biaryls

A new, general ortho/para-selective anodic dehydrogenative cross-coupling of two aryl amines, naphthalen-2-amine derivatives and anilines, is described. This electrochemical protocol assembles a wide range of unsymmetrical biaryls in good to excellent yields under mild, additional-metal-catalyst-free, oxidant-free conditions with excellent selectivity, broad substrate scope, and wide functional group tolerance. This electrochemical technology is highlighted with facile incorporation of important pharmacophores into the resulting biaryls, and is applicable to the homocoupling of anilines for producing symmetrical biaryls.