Electrochemically Enabled Carbohydroxylation of Alkenes with H2O and Organotrifluoroborates

Unprecedented hydroxy-alkynylation and -alkenylation reactions of arylalkenes have been developed through electrochemically enabled addition of an organotrifluoroborate reagent and H2O across the double bond of the alkene. The use of electrochemistry to promote these oxidative alkene 1,2-difunctionalization reactions not only obviates the need for transition-metal catalysts and oxidizing reagents but also ensures high regio- and chemoselectivity to afford homopropargylic or homoallylic alcohols. The possibility of extending the electrochemical alkene difunctionalization strategy to other alkene carbo-heterofunctionalization reactions has been demonstrated.