Electrochemical cross-dehydrogenative coupling of arenes and carboxylic acids for the synthesis of aryl esters

Abstract

Herein, we present an electrochemical, metal-free strategy for the synthesis of aryl esters via direct cross-dehydrogenative coupling of arenes and carboxylic acids. The protocol employs simple, abundant starting materials, dispenses with pre-functionalized reagents, thereby eliminating the need for stoichiometric chemical oxidants or reductants. A wide variety of aryl esters were generated in high yields, with good functional group compatibility in up to a gram scale under mild conditions.