Electrocatalytic carboxylation of benzyl chlorides at silver cathodes in acetonitrile

Silver exhibits powerful electrocatalytic activities towards the reductive carboxylation of benzyl chlorides (RCl): in CO2-saturated CH3CN, reduction of RCl occurs at potentials that are about 0.6 V more positive than those of the same process at Hg or carbon electrodes and gives carboxylic acids in good to excellent yields.