Electrogenerated Sm(II)-Catalyzed CO₂ Activation for Carboxylation of Benzyl Halides

Abstract

Sm(II)-catalyzed carboxylation of benzyl halides is reported through the electrochemical reduction of CO₂. The transformation proceeds under mild reaction conditions to afford the corresponding phenylacetic acids in good to excellent yields. This user-friendly and operationally simple protocol represents an alternative to traditional strategies, which usually proceeds through the C(sp³)-halide activation pathway.