Electrochemical E-Selective Semireductive Dicarboxylation of Aryl Alkynes with CO2

Herein, we report an electrochemical protocol for the dicarboxylation of aryl alkynes using CO2. With a graphite rod as the cathode and Al as the sacrificial anode, a series of valuable butenedioic acids are obtained in moderate to excellent yields with an E/Z ratio up to 50:1. This method features high E-selectivity, high step and atom economy, easy scalability, and a nice substrate scope, which renders it appealing for promising applications in organic synthesis and materials chemistry.