Electrosynthesis of tetrahydrofurans from styrenes with water as oxygen source

Electrochemical synthesis offers a sustainable platform for redox transformations. However, many existing methods suffer from low Faradaic efficiency and high energy input. Herein, we report an efficient electrosynthetic strategy for the direct conversion of styrenes into tetrahydrofurans (THFs) using water as the sole oxygen source. By integrating experimental studies and theoretical calculations, we revealed that inexpensive carbon-based electrodes effectively promoted styrene activation and facilitated a radical-radical coupling of styrene-derived radical cations and hydroxyl radicals(•OH) generated in-situ from water oxidation. Moreover, key reactive intermediates were identified to support the proposed mechanism. This work established an efficient route to THFs and underscored the potential of electrochemical approaches for harnessing water as oxygen source in selective organic transformations.