Electrochemically Induced Intermolecular Cross-Dehydrogenative C-O Coupling of β-Diketones and β-Ketoesters with Carboxylic Acids.

The electrochemically induced cross-dehydrogenative C-O coupling of β-diketones and β-ketoesters (C-H reagents) with carboxylic acids (O-H reagents) was developed. An important feature of this reaction lies in the selective formation of intermolecular C-O coupling products in high yields, up to 92%, using DMSO as a solvent with a broad substrate scope in an undivided cell equipped with carbon and platinum electrodes at high current density. Electric current acts as a stoichiometric oxidant.