Electroreductive Coupling of Ketones with Nonactivated Olefins

Abstract

The electroreductive coupling of ketones with nonactivated olefins was studied under various reactions conditions. When a mixture of a ketone with an olefin (mol ratio 1: 3 2) was electrolyzed in the mixed solvent of isopropanol and dioxane using carbon rod electrode, the coupling product was obtained in the highest yield. The mechanism of this electroreductive coupling reaction appears to involve the addition of the carbon radical species originating from one electrori reduction of the carbonyl group to the double bond of olefins.