Formal Aza‐Wacker Cyclization by Tandem Electrochemical Oxidation and Copper Catalysis

In oxidative electrochemical organic synthesis, radical intermediates are often oxidized to cations en route to final product formation. Here we describe an approach to transform electrochemically generated organic radical intermediates into neutral products via reaction with a metal catalyst. This approach combines electrochemical oxidation with Cu catalysis to effect formal aza‐Wacker cyclization of internal alkenes. The Cu catalyst is essential for transforming secondary and primary alkyl radical intermediates into alkenes. A wide range of 5‐membered N‐heterocycles including oxazolidinone, imidazolidinone, thiazolidinone, pyrrolidinone and isoindolinone can be prepared under mild conditions.

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