Electrochemical Umpolung Enabled Radical-Radical Cross-Coupling Between Electron-Deficient Methylarenes and Aldehydes

The electrochemical utilization of electron-deficient methylarenes for radical-radical cross-couplings remains very rare.Enabled by an umpolung strategy,the unprecedented electrochemical cross-coupling of electron-deficient methylarenes with aldehydes was developed.The paired electrolysis simultaneously generated electron-deficient benzylic radicals and ketyl radicals at both electrodes,which then underwent radical recombination,governed by polarity matching and persistent-radical effect(PRE)to afford functionalized alcohols that are not easily accessible by other methods.This protocol features catalystand external redox agent-free conditions and a formal 100%atom economy.Mechanistic studies support the radical-radical cross-coupling pathway.