87. CO2 Transient Promotion Function Enabled the Selective Electrochemical Transformation of Imines

Fan, Y.;# Chen, C.;# Zhang, Z.; Meng, X.; Liu, X.; Cao, J.; Jiang, Y.-Y.* and Zhao, Y.* Org. Lett. 2023, 25, 9202-9206. Download Link.

Abstract: An unprecedented transient promotion function (TPF) of CO2 in the electrochemical hydrogenation/deuteration of imines (especially α-iminonitriles) is reported. The TPF influence of CO2 results from the introduction of CO2 that disperses the negative charges of the imine radical anion intermediate. The resulting redistribution of electrons leads to a lower reduction potential of the CO2-substituted imine radical anion and thus facilitates the succeeding one-electron reduction. CO2 is finally released via spontaneous decarboxylation to complete the transient promotion process.