Nickel-catalyzed electrochemical reductive relay cross-coupling of alkyl halides with alkyl carboxylic acids

Abstract

A highly regioselective Ni-catalyzed electrochemical (undivided cell) reductive relay cross-coupling between alkyl carboxylic acids and alkyl bromides has been developed. This strategy allows the direct acylation of benzylic C(sp³)–H bonds in good yields from commercially available alkyl carboxylic acids, thus providing an alternative strategy for the synthesis of dialkyl ketones. Various functional groups are tolerated under mild reaction conditions.