The Electrochemical cis-Chlorination of Alkenes.

The first example for the electrochemical cis-dichlorination of alkenes is presented. The reaction can be performed with little experimental effort by using phenylselenyl chloride as catalyst and tetrabutylammoniumchloride as supporting electrolyte, which also acts as nucleophilic reagent for the SN 2-type replacement of selenium versus chloride. Cyclic voltammetric measurements and control experiments revealed a dual role of phenylselenyl chloride in the reaction. Based on these results a reaction mechanism was postulated, where the key step of the process is the activation of a phenylselenyl chloride-alkene adduct by electrochemically generated phenylselenyl trichloride. Like this, different aliphatic and aromatic cyclic and acyclic alkenes were converted to the dichlorinated products. Thereby, throughout high diastereoselectivities were achieved for the cis-chlorinated compounds of >95 : 5 or higher.

Linear Paired Electrolysis-Realising 200 % Current Efficiency for Stoichiometric Transformations-The Electrochemical Bromination of Alkenes.

The generation of bromine by oxidation of bromide anions at the anode and reduction of molecular oxygen at the cathode to hydrogen peroxide resulted in the overall formation of two molecules of Br2 (=four electron oxidation) by passing just two electrons through the solution. The bromine was used for the bromination of alkenes and thereby a linear paired electrolysis was attained which resulted in current efficencies of up to 200 %. Also, the diiodination of cyclohexene as well as the electrophilic aromatic bromination of an electron-rich arene were realised both in 168 % current efficiencies.

Electrochemical, Iodine-Mediated α-CH Amination of Ketones by Umpolung of Silyl Enol Ethers.

The electrochemical, oxidative Umpolung reaction of silyl enol ethers utilizing simple iodide salts for the synthesis of α-amino ketones is described. The products were isolated in excellent yields of up to 100%, and various functionalized starting materials were accepted in an undivided electrochemical cell design. Moreover, a sensitivity assessment to ensure an improved reproducibility of the reaction and cyclic voltammetry experiments were performed to postulate a plausible reaction mechanism on their basis.

Electrochemical-Induced Ring Transformation of Cyclic α-(ortho-Iodophenyl)-ß-oxoesters.

Cyclic α-(ortho-iodophenyl)-ß-oxoesters were converted in a ring-expanding transformation to furnish benzannulated cycloalkanone carboxylic esters. The reaction sequence started by electrochemical reduction of the iodoarene moiety. In a mechanistic rationale, the resulting carbanionic species was adding to the carbonyl group under formation of a strained, tricyclic benzocyclobutene intermediate, which underwent carbon-carbon bond cleavage and rearrangement of the carbon skeleton by retro-aldol reaction. The scope of the reaction sequence was investigated by converting cyclic oxoesters with different ring sizes yielding benzocycloheptanone, -nonanone and -decanone derivatives in moderate to good yields. Furthermore, acyclic starting materials and cyclic compounds carrying additional substituents on the iodophenyl ring were submitted to this reaction sequence. The starting materials for this transformation are straightforwardly obtained by conversion of ß-oxoesters with phenyliodobis(trifluoroacetate).

Electrochemical, Manganese-Assisted Carbon-Carbon Bond Formation between ß-Keto Esters and Silyl Enol Ethers.

The electrochemical carbon-carbon bond formation process between ß-keto esters and silyl enol ethers was investigated utilizing manganese salts. The tricarbonyl compounds were generated in moderate to good yields under neutral conditions. Control experiments revealed that an electro-generated base at the cathode is important. Electroanalytical measurements with a Mn(TPA) complex suggested that the oxidation of the silyl enol ether is the first step in the oxidation process initiated by a corresponding Mn(IV) species.

Hydroaminoalkylation of Allylsilanes and a One-Pot Procedure for the Synthesis of 1,5-Benzoazasilepines.

Allylsilanes undergo highly regioselective intermolecular alkene hydroaminoalkylation with secondary amines in the presence of a titanium mono(formamidinate) catalyst. Corresponding reactions of a suitable allyl(2-bromophenyl)silane which exclusively deliver the branched hydroaminoalkylation products combined with a subsequent Buchwald-Hartwig amination result in the development of an elegant one-pot procedure for the synthesis of literature-unknown silicon analogues of 1,5-benzodiazepines, the so-called 1,5-benzoazasilepines.