Selective Electrochemical Oxidation of Benzylic C–H to Benzylic Alcohols with the Aid of Imidazolium Radical Mediators

O/DMF. Mechanism investigation reveals that the imidazolium radical generated in situ participants in a proton-coupled electron transfer process and low-barrier hydrogen bonds stabilize the reaction intermediates, together steering the redox equilibrium, favoring benzylic alcohols over benzylic ketones.