Site-Selective C–H Functionalization via Synergistic Use of Electrochemistry and Transition Metal Catalysis

ConspectusElectrochemical synthesis of organic compounds has emerged as an attractive and environmentally benign alternative to conventional approaches for oxidation and reduction of organic compounds that utilizes electric current instead of chemical oxidants and reductants. As such, many useful transformations have been developed, including the Kolbe reaction, the Simons fluorination process, the Monsanto adiponitrile process, and the Shono oxidation, to name a few. Electrochemical C–H functionalization represents one of the most promising reaction types among many electrochemical transformations, since this process avoids prefunctionalization of substrates and provides novel retrosynthetic disconnections. However, site-selective anodic oxidation of C–H bonds is still a fundamental challenge due to the high oxidation potentials of C–H bonds compared to organic solvents and common functional groups. To overcome this issue, indirect electrolysis via the action of a mediator (a redox catalyst) is regularly...