Electrochemically Driven Nickel-Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydro-Arylation/Alkenylation of Enones

Herein, the study reports the first electrochemical nickel-catalyzed enantioselective hydro-arylation/alkenylation of enones in an undivided cell with low-cost electrodes in the absence of external reductants and supporting electrolytes. Aryl bromides/iodides/triflates or alkenyl bromides are employed as electrophiles for the efficient preparation of more than 56 valuable β-arylated/alkenylated ketones in a simple manner (up to 97% yield, 97% ee). With the advantages of electrochemistry, excellent functional group tolerance and late-stage modification of complex natural products and pharmaceuticals made the established protocol greener and more economic. Mechanism investigation suggests that a Ni^I/Ni^III cycle may be involved in this electro-reductive reaction rather than metal reductant driven Ni⁰/Ni^II cycle. Overall, the efficient electrochemical activation and turnover of the nickel catalyst avoid the drawbacks posed by the employment of stoichiometric amount of sensitive metal powder reductants.