Electrochemical study demonstrates selective allylic C–H hydroxylation without overoxidation via pulsed electrolysis, highlighting temporal control for complex anodic transformations.
The selective oxidation of allylic C–H bonds to alcohols without overoxidation to carbonyl compounds remains a long-standing challenge due to the high reactivity of hydroxylated intermediates under anodic conditions. Herein, we report a programmable pulsed electrolysis strategy that effectively suppresses overoxidation to achieve allylic hydroxylation by temporally decoupling oxidative activation from product desorption. Using N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) as a hydrogen-atom-transfer mediator and water-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) as the oxidant, pulsed operation on a boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode enables kinetic control over intermediate residence at the electrode interface. As a result, α,β-unsaturated alcohols are selectively obtained under transition-metal-free conditions. This work highlights temporal waveform control as an effective strategy for directing selectivity in complex anodic oxidation pathways.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Fan et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: