Electrochemical Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohols via Hydrogen Atom Transfer Mediated by 2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol

We report a novel electrochemical oxidation of benzyl alcohols. We found that trifluoroethanol plays a role as a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) mediator, enabling the oxidation of electron-deficient substrates that are difficult to directly oxidize on electrode surfaces. Density functional theory calculations, cyclic voltammetry measurements, and constant potential electrolysis studies supported the proposed HAT mechanism. Moreover, the obtained carbonyl compounds could be functionalized in an electrochemical one-pot manner, further highlighting their synthetic utility.

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Organic Letters, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.orglett.5c01138.

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