Electrogenerated Sm(II)-Catalyzed Carbon Dioxide Reduction for β-Hydrocarboxylation of Styrenes

Abstract

The synthesis of carboxylic acids from low-value materials such as alkenes using CO2 as a C1-building block remains a real challenge for synthetic chemists from both reactivity and selectivity perspectives. Electrochemical carboxylations have been examined but they remain limited, still suffering from a crucial lack of selectivity. Herein we report a catalytic protocol based on an electrogenerated Sm(II) catalyst as a powerful CO2 reductant, able to perform exclusively anti-Markovnikov hydrocarboxylation of alkenes. This electrochemical approach overcomes several current limitations and allows direct β-hydrocarboxylation of styrene derivatives, in a regioselective manner.