Electro‐Olefination—A Catalyst Free Stereoconvergent Strategy for the Functionalization of Alkenes
Andreas N. Baumann, Arif Music, Jonas Dechent, Nicolas Müller, Thomas‐C. Jagau, Dorian Didier
Abstract
) bond formations are typically mediated by transition-metal-based catalysts. Herein, we conceptualize a complementary avenue to access such bonds by exploiting the potential of electrochemistry in combination with organoboron chemistry. We demonstrate a transition metal catalyst-free electrocoupling between (hetero)aryls and alkenes through readily available alkenyl-tri(hetero)aryl borate salts (ATBs) in a stereoconvergent fashion. This unprecedented transformation was investigated theoretically and experimentally and led to a library of functionalized alkenes. The concept was then carried further and applied to the synthesis of the natural product pinosylvin and the derivatization of the steroidal dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) scaffold.