Electrochemical Esterification Reaction of Alkyne Aldehyde with Alcohols Mediated by Carbene and Iodine

Abstract A new type of alkyne esterification was developed under electrochemical conditions using alkyne aldehydes and alcohol compounds as starting materials and carbene and iodine as mediators. Through this method, external oxidants and transition metals are excluded and the alkyne bond is fully preserved. This approach is compatible with a wide range of substrates and various functional groups and provides a green and mild new route for directly converting alkyne aldehydes into alkyne esters.