Dehydrogenative Anodic Cyanation Reaction of Phenols in Benzylic Positions

The selective dehydrogenative electrochemical activation of benzylic positions by 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropan-2-ol (HFIP) and subsequent cyanation is presented for the first time. Herein, we report a sustainable, scalable, and metal-free dehydrogenative benzylic cyanation protocol. Valuable 2-phenylacetonitrile derivatives are accessible in the presence of a cyanide source and an electrolytically-derived HFIP ether. The direct application of electricity enables a safe and environmentally benign chemical transformation, since oxidizers are replaced by electricity.