Efficient electrochemical dicarboxylation of phenyl-substituted alkenes: Synthesis of 1-phenylalkane-1,2-dicarboxylic acids

Electrochemical dicarboxylation of phenyl-substituted alkenes in the presence of atmospheric pressure of carbon dioxide with a platinum plate cathode and a magnesium rod anode readily took place efficiently in a DMF solution containing 0.1 M Et4ClO4 to give the corresponding 1,2-dicarboxylic acids in high yields.