The Active Chlorine Mediated Electrochemical Synthesis of Aromatic Nitriles through Cascade Reaction

An efficient and transition-metal-free synthesis strategy of aromatic nitriles from corresponding aldehydes with H 2 SO 4 (NH 2 OH) 2 as the nitrogen source and Cl − /ClO − as the redox mediator was developed. The redox Cl − /ClO − showed electrochemical reversibility in acidic condition. The possible mechanism involving the transformation of Cl − , the generation and electrochemical reduction of nitrile oxides based on the results of cyclic voltammetry and constant current electrolysis was proposed.