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Updated: Sep 7, 2025

Author Spotlight: Accelerating Discovery in Microporous Material Chemistry
Published on: October 6, 2023
Electrochemical selenium-π-acid promoted hydration of alkynyl phosphonates
Bo Li1,2, Yunhao Zhou2, Yanan Sun1
1Key Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), School of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, P. R. China.
Abstract:
An unprecedented electrochemical selenium-π-acid promoted hydration of internal alkynes bearing a phosphonate auxiliary was described. Thus, valuable (hetero)aryl and alkyl ketones could be accessed under mild, metal- and external oxidant-free conditions. This protocol features high atom-economy, good chemo- and regio-selectivity, excellent functional group tolerance and easily transformable products. Control experiments demonstrate that phosphonate assistance is essential for this transformation.
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