C-H bond cyanation: electrochemical synthesis of phenylbenzimidoyl cyanide derivatives.

The application of electricity in chemical processes represents a sustainable technology for the future. This green activation mode derives from renewable energy sources (such as solar, wind, and hydropower), safeguarding resources by being less polluting and utilizing less materials. C-H bond functionalisation is one of the most powerful synthetic methods for forging molecular complexity to access valuable chemicals in a single step transformation. Herein, an electrochemical C-H bond cyanation of imine derivatives under electrochemical reaction conditions has been developed. This is a new, simple, fast and non-toxic way for the direct cyanation of imine derivatives. Acetonitrile was found to be a new and effective cyanation reagent under catalyst-free electrochemical conditions. The cyanation protocol can be applied to diverse substrates including substituted and unsubstituted imine derivatives. The electrochemical method has been carried out in an undivided cell at constant current at 0 °C for 1 h using a Carbon rod as cathode and a magnesium plate as anode.