Regioselective Electrochemical Cyclobutanol Ring Expansion to 1‐Tetralones

Abstract A mild electrochemical method for the regioselective preparation of 1‐tetralones under environmentally friendly conditions from readily available cyclobutanols was developed. A series of aromatic‐ and heteroaromatic‐fused 1‐tetralones was accessed through ring expansion of the functionalized cyclobutanols via electrochemical generation of alkoxy radicals and intramolecular cyclization.