Asymmetric Lewis Acid Catalyzed Electrochemical Alkylation

Abstract

Lewis-acid catalysis and electrochemistry represent two powerful fields that have found widespread application in organic chemistry. Reported herein is an asymmetric electrosynthesis in combination with a chiral Ni catalyst leading to an intermolecular alkylation reaction in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97 % ee). Mechanistic studies suggest that the Lewis-acid-bound radical intermediate from a single-electron anodic oxidation selectively reacts with the benzylic radical species to generate the desired adducts.