Electrochemical flow-reactor for expedient synthesis of copper–N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

An electrochemical flow-cell for highly efficient and selective generation of Cu(I)-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes under neutral and ambient conditions is reported. The feasibility of the flow-cell is demonstrated through the electrochemical synthesis of [Cu(IMes)Cl] and subsequent in situ flow directly into hydrosilylation reactions, with equal efficiency to the purified catalyst.