Electrochemical Reductive Cross-Coupling of Vinyl Bromides for the Synthesis of 1,3-Dienes

An electroreductive cross-electrophile coupling protocol was developed for the construction of valuable 1,3-dienes from vinyl bromides. Furthermore, this scalable method can also be used to forge complex [4 + 2] cycloadducts in a one-pot manner. One of the most important advantages of this green and sustainable protocol is the in situ release of nickel catalyst from the inexpensive electrodes without the addition of extra harmful metal catalysts and reductant.

Nickel-catalyzed reductive 1,3-diene formation from the cross-coupling of vinyl bromides

Facile construction of 1,3-dienes building upon cross-electrophile coupling of two open-chain vinyl halides is disclosed in this work, showing moderate chemoselectivities between the terminal bromoalkenes and internal vinyl bromides. The present method is mild and tolerates a range of functional groups and can be applied to the total synthesis of a tobacco fragrance solanone.