Electrochemical Carboxylation of Ketones RCOCH2R′ Coupled with CO2 Reduction by [Ru(bpy)2(CO)2]2+

Abstract Electrochemical carboxylation of PhCOCH3 and C6H10(O) coupled with CO2 reduction by [Ru(bpy)2(CO)2]2+ was carried out in CO2−saturated dry CH3CN. CO2 ligated on the ruthenium atom is reduced to HCOO− or CO upon the electrochemical reduction of the complex, where PhCOCH3 and C6H10(O) function as a proton source, and the resultant carbanions react with CO2 to afford the corresponding ketoacids, catalytically.