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ELECTROCATALYSIS

Kolbe reaction goes reductive

Nature Synthesis volume 1, pages 417–419 (2022)Cite this article

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The Kolbe electrolysis is a transformation renowned for forging C(sp3)–C(sp3) bonds. However, it is challenging to selectively make cross-products — that is, form new bonds from different partners — using this reaction. Now, a nickel-catalysed ‘reductive Kolbe’ reaction enables a decarboxylative cross-coupling approach.

The Kolbe electrolysis is a classical and appealing approach for the construction of C(sp3)–C(sp3) bonds by combining two alkyl carboxylic acids using an electro-oxidative pathway. Despite its venerable past, developing a general and mild approach for ‘mixed’ Kolbe reactions, which involve two different substrates, remains challenging. In particular, this strategy is plagued by inferior selectivity, poor tolerance of functional groups and harsh electrolysis conditions (more specifically, high current density and the need for an expensive Pt electrode). Now, writing in Nature, Baran and co-workers1 demonstrate an electro-reductive approach (or a reductive Kolbe reaction) to overcome these limitations by cross-coupling redox active esters using a nickel catalyst.

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Fig. 1: Nickel-catalysed cross-coupling of carboxylic acids with in situ generation of redox active esters.

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  1. Twitter: @findlatergroup

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, China

    Sheng Zhang

  2. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Merced, CA, USA

    Michael Findlater

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  1. Sheng Zhang
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  2. Michael Findlater
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Correspondence to Michael Findlater.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Zhang, S., Findlater, M. Kolbe reaction goes reductive. Nat. Synth 1, 417–419 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44160-022-00088-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44160-022-00088-3

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