Direct synthesis of paracetamol via site-selective electrochemical Ritter-type C–H amination of phenol

Abstract

The synthesis of paracetamol still relies on multistep protocols involving the utilization of a stoichiometric amount of oxidizing/reducing or other corrosive agents. Herein we report a regioselective electrochemical Ritter-type reaction at the C(sp2)–H of unprotected phenol toward the environmentally benign and direct synthesis of paracetamol. The reaction proceeds under exogenous oxidant- and catalyst-free conditions. The protocol is scalable, can be deployed to a variety of phenols, and offers a sustainable alternative for the synthesis of paracetamol.