Electrochemical generation of a nonstabilized azomethine ylide: Access to substituted N-heterocycles

Abstract

Azomethine ylides are fascinating 1,3-dipoles for [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions toward the construction ofN-heterocycles. Herein, an efficient and environmentally benign electrochemical approach for the generation of a nonstabilized azomethine ylide has been established under metal-free and external oxidant-free conditions. The resulting 1,3-dipole undergoes a [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction with olefins. This electrosynthetic methodology indulges a straightforward and facile approach for the construction of substituted pyrrolidines.