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Synthetic organic electrochemistry is recognized as one of the most sustainable forms of redox chemistry that can enable a wide variety of useful transformations. In this study, readily prepared pyrolytic carbon electrodes are explored in several powerful rAP transformations as well as C-C and C-N bond forming reactions. Pyrolytic carbon provides an alternative to classic amorphous carbon-based materials that are either expensive or ill-suited to large-scale flow reactions., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

C-C linked glutarimide-containing structures with direct utility in the preparation of cereblon-based degraders (PROTACs, CELMoDs) can be assessed in a single step from inexpensive, commercial α-bromoglutarimide through a unique Brønsted-acid assisted Ni-electrocatalytic approach. The reaction tolerates a broad array of functional groups that are historically problematic and can be applied to the simplified synthesis of dozens of known compounds that have only been procured through laborious, wasteful, multi-step sequences. The reaction is scalable in both batch and flow and features a trivial procedure wherein the most time-consuming aspect of reaction setup is weighing out the starting materials., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

A mild, scalable (kg) metal-free electrochemical decarboxylation of alkyl carboxylic acids to olefins is disclosed. Numerous applications are presented wherein this transformation can simplify alkene synthesis and provide alternative synthetic access to valuable olefins from simple carboxylic acid feedstocks. This robust method relies on alternating polarity to maintain the quality of the electrode surface and local pH, providing a deeper understanding of the Hofer-Moest process with unprecedented chemoselectivity., (© 2023 The Authors. Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Simple access to aryl sulfinates from aryl iodides and bromides is reported using an inexpensive Ni-electrocatalytic protocol. The reaction exhibits a broad scope, uses stock solution of simple SO 2 as sulfur source, and can be scaled up in batch and recycle flow settings. The limitations of this reaction are clearly shown and put into context by benchmarking with state-of-the-art Pd-based methods., (© 2022 The Authors. Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The formation of aryl-alkyl ether bonds through cross coupling of alcohols with aryl halides represents a useful strategic departure from classical S N 2 methods. Numerous tactics relying on Pd-, Cu-, and Ni-based catalytic systems have emerged over the past several years. Herein we disclose a Ni-catalyzed electrochemically driven protocol to achieve this useful transformation with a broad substrate scope in an operationally simple way. This electrochemical method does not require strong base, exogenous expensive transition metal catalysts (e.g., Ir, Ru), and can easily be scaled up in either a batch or flow setting. Interestingly, e-etherification exhibits an enhanced substrate scope over the mechanistically related photochemical variant as it tolerates tertiary amine functional groups in the alcohol nucleophile., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The Escherichia coli lacZ gene encoding β-galactosidase is a widely used reporter, but few synthetic substrates are available for detecting its activity with single-cell resolution in living samples. Our recently reported fluorogenic substrate SPiDER-βGal is suitable for this purpose, but its hydrolysis product shows green fluorescence emission, and a red-shifted analogue is therefore required for use in combination with green fluorescent protein (GFP) markers. Herein, we describe the development of a red-shifted fluorogenic substrate for β-galactosidase, SPiDER-Red-βGal, based on a silicon rhodol scaffold and a carboxylic group as the intramolecular nucleophile. LacZ-positive cells were successfully labeled with SPiDER-Red-βGal at single-cell resolution in living samples, which enabled us to visualize different cell types in combination with GFP markers., (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Unmet potential: Electrochemistry is the most simple and basic way of altering the redox-states of organic molecules. Despite extensive studies and its demonstrated promise, it has yet to take off in mainstream synthesis. The reason is due to engineering challenges in instrument design., (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Along with amide bond formation, Suzuki cross-coupling, and reductive amination, the Buchwald-Hartwig-Ullmann-type amination of aryl halides stands as one of the most employed reactions in modern medicinal chemistry. The work herein demonstrates the potential of utilizing electrochemistry to provide a complementary avenue to access such critical bonds using an inexpensive nickel catalyst under mild reaction conditions. Of note is the scalability, functional-group tolerance, rapid rate, and the ability to employ a variety of aryl donors (Ar-Cl, Ar-Br, Ar-I, Ar-OTf), amine types (primary and secondary), and even alternative X-H donors (alcohols and amides)., (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

An unconventional Ugi: A catalytic asymmetric Ugi-type reaction can be realized by use of N'-alkylbenzohydrazide, instead of a conventional amine, in the presence of an axially chiral dicarboxylic acid. The reaction proceeds through a key acyclic azomethine imine intermediate, which has recently emerged as a promising electrophile in asymmetric catalysis., (Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)