Electroreductive Cobalt-Catalyzed Carboxylation: Cross-Electrophile Electrocoupling with Atmospheric CO₂

The chemical use of CO₂ as an inexpensive, nontoxic C1 synthon is of utmost topical interest in the context of carbon capture and utilization (CCU). We present the merger of cobalt catalysis and electrochemical synthesis for mild catalytic carboxylations of allylic chlorides with CO₂ . Styrylacetic acid derivatives were obtained with moderate to good yields and good functional group tolerance. The thus-obtained products are useful as versatile synthons of γ-arylbutyrolactones. Cyclic voltammetry and in operando kinetic analysis were performed to provide mechanistic insights into the electrocatalytic carboxylation with CO₂ .