Electrochemically promoted C(sp3)–C(sp2) bond formation via radical/radical anion cross-coupling

A direct electro-reduction strategy to construct the carbon(sp 3 )-carbon(sp 2 ) bonds from aromatic nitriles and alkyl halides (including iodides and bromides) via electrochemical radical/radical anion cross-coupling is described. A variety of functional groups are tolerated under the mild reaction conditions giving more than 27 desired products in moderate to good yields. The successful preparation of a bioactive cholesterol derivative demonstrates the practical utility of this method. Importantly, the gram scale experiment result shows the potential applications of this electrochemical transformation.