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Metal‐ and Reagent‐Free Highly Selective Anodic Cross‐Coupling Reaction of Phenols
Author(s) -
Elsler Bernd,
Schollmeyer Dieter,
Dyballa Katrin Marie,
Franke Robert,
Waldvogel Siegfried R.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201400627
Subject(s) - reagent , chemistry , oxidizing agent , formic acid , electrolysis , electrophile , phenols , catalysis , combinatorial chemistry , methanol , inorganic chemistry , electrolyte , organic chemistry , electrode
The direct oxidative cross‐coupling of phenols is a very challenging transformation, as homo‐coupling is usually strongly preferred. Electrochemical methods circumvent the use of oxidizing reagents or metal catalysts and are therefore highly attractive. Employing electrolytes with a high capacity for hydrogen bonding, such as methanol with formic acid or 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoro‐2‐propanol, a direct electrolysis in an undivided cell provides mixed 2,2′‐biphenols with high selectivity. This mild method tolerates a variety of moieties, for example, tert ‐butyl groups, which are not compatible with other strong electrophilic media but vital for later catalytic applications of the formed products.