Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2025

Facile Preparation of 2Z,4E-Dienamides by the Olefination of Electron-deficient Alkenes with Allyl Acetate
Published on: June 21, 2017
Electroreduction Enables Regioselective 1,2-Diarylation of Alkenes with Two Electrophiles
Weijie Yu1, Shengchun Wang2, Meng He2
1National Research Center for Carbohydrate Synthesis, Key Lab of Fluorine and Silicon for Energy Materials and Chemistry of Ministry of Education and Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, 330022, Jiangxi, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Precisely introducing two similar functional groups into bulk chemical alkenes represents a formidable route to complex molecules. Especially, the selective activation of two electrophiles is in crucial demand, yet challenging for cross-electrophile-coupling. Herein, we demonstrate a redox-mediated electrolysis, in which aryl nitriles are both aryl radical precursors and redox-mediators, enables an intermolecular alkene 1,2-diarylation with a remarkable regioselectivity, thereby avoiding the involvement of transition-metal catalysts. This transformation utilizes cyanoarene radical anions for activating various aryl halides (including iodides, bromides, and even chlorides) and affords 1,2-diarylation adducts in up to 83 % yield and >20 : 1 regioselectivity with more than 80 examples, providing a feasible approach to complex bibenzyl derivatives.
More Related Videos
09:54Chemoselective Preparation of 1-Iodoalkynes, 1,2-Diiodoalkenes, and 1,1,2-Triiodoalkenes Based on the Oxidative Iodination of Terminal Alkynes
Published on: September 12, 2018
08:12A Two-Step Protocol for Umpolung Functionalization of Ketones Via Enolonium Species
Published on: August 16, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Regioselectivity of Electrophilic Additions to Alkenes: Markovnikov's Rule
The hydrohalogenation of an unsymmetrical alkene can yield two haloalkane products, depending on which vinylic carbon takes up the halogen. However, one product usually predominates, where hydrogen adds to the vinylic carbon bearing the...
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
E2 Reaction: Stereochemistry and Regiochemistry
When a substrate with two different β hydrogens undergoes an E2 elimination, the presence of a strong base can yield two regioisomeric alkenes. The more-substituted alkene is the major...
Introduction to Electrophilic Addition Reactions of Alkenes
Addition and elimination...
α-Alkylation of Ketones via Enolate Ions
Electrophilic 1,2- and 1,4-Addition of X2 to 1,3-Butadiene