Electrochemical Decarboxylative Coupling for C(sp³)-N Bond Formation of Triazoles and Carboxylic Acids

An electrochemically driven anodic decarboxylative process for C(sp³)-N coupling is developed, employing non-activated carboxylic acids as alkylating agents. This reaction proceeds via anodic oxidative decarboxylation of carboxylic acids to generate carbon-centered radicals and the efficient radical cross-coupling of highly reactive α-aminated carbon-centered radicals with triazole radicals, thereby affording α-aminated triazole derivatives. Notably, this method obviates the need for the pre-activation of carboxylic acids, expensive transition metal catalysts, and external oxidants. It also exhibits a broad substrate scope for heterocyclic N-alkylation, thus providing a concise and ecofriendly synthetic route toward complex triazole-containing molecules.