Electrocatalytic ring-opening dihydroalkoxylation of N-aryl maleimides with alcohols under metal- and oxidant-free conditions

The electrocatalytic ring-opening dihydroalkoxylation of N-aryl maleimides with alcohols under metal- and oxidant-free conditions is described. This electrochemical process consists of anodic single-electron transfer oxidation, cathodic radical reduction, rearrangement-ring cleavage and nucleophilic addition cascade, which employs tetrabutylammonium bromide not only as a redox catalyst but also as an efficient supporting electrolyte, and offers a practical and environmentally friendly route to ring-opening difunctionalization products.