Organocatalytic electrochemical amination of benzylic C–H bonds

Abstract

An organocatalytic site-selective electrochemical method for the benzylic C–H amination reactions of alkylarenes with azoles through hydrogen evolution has been developed. The protocol proceeds in an undivided cell under mild conditions and employs 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) as a redox catalyst to generate carbocations, which obviates the need for transition-metal reagents or sacrificial chemical oxidants.