Electrochemical α-C(sp3)–H/O–H cross-coupling of isochromans and alcohols assisted by benzoic acid

Abstract

Isochroman moieties are present in a wide variety of biologically active molecules, but converting isochromans to α-substituted derivatives under mild conditions is challenging. Herein, we report a mild, convenient protocol for synthesis of α-alkoxy isochroman derivatives by means of electrochemical α-C(sp³)–H/O–H cross-coupling reactions of isochromans and alcohols in the presence of benzoic acid, which facilitated the electro-oxidation process and increased the product yield. Various alcohols and isochromans, as well as other structurally similar substrates, gave moderate to high yields of the desired coupling products, and the reaction could be carried out on a gram scale.