Electrochemical direct carboxylation of benzyl alcohols having an electron-withdrawing group on the phenyl ring: one-step formation of phenylacetic acids from benzyl alcohols under mild conditions

Electrochemical direct carboxylation of benzyl alcohols having an electron-withdrawing group on the phenyl ring was successfully carried out by constant current electrolysis using an undivided cell equipped with a platinum plate cathode and a magnesium rod anode in DMF in the presence of carbon dioxide. Reductive cleavage of the C–O bond followed by fixation of carbon dioxide efficiently took place at the benzylic position without any additive to give the corresponding phenylacetic acids in good yields in one step under neutral and mild conditions.