Selective Oxidative Cleavage of Benzyl C–N Bond under Metal-Free Electrochemical Conditions

With the growing significance of green chemistry in organic synthesis, electrochemical oxidation has seen rapid development. Compounds undergo oxidation–reduction reactions through electron transfer at the electrode surface. This article proposes the use of electrochemical methods to achieve cleavage of the benzyl C–N bond. This method selectively oxidatively cleaves the C–N bond without the need for metal catalysts or external oxidants. Additionally, primary, secondary, and tertiary amines exhibit good adaptability under these conditions, utilizing water as the sole source of oxygen.