Direct electrochemical oxidation of alcohols with hydrogen evolution in continuous-flow reactor

Alcohol oxidation reactions are widely used for the preparation of aldehydes and ketones. The electrolysis of alcohols to carbonyl compounds have been underutilized owing to low efficiency. Herein, we report an electrochemical oxidation of various alcohols in a continuous-flow reactor without external oxidants, base or mediators. The robust electrochemical oxidation is performed for a variety of alcohols with good functional group tolerance, high efficiency and atom economy, whereas mechanistic studies support the benzylic radical intermediate formation and hydrogen evolution. The electrochemical oxidation proves viable on diols with excellent levels of selectivity for the benzylic position.