Metal-Free Electrocatalytic C(sp(2))-H Acyloxylation of Aromatic Ring to Synthesis of Acetoxylated Phenylethers

This report describes the electrocatalytic regioselective acyloxylation and halogenation of aromatic C(sp(2))-H bond in an undivided cell without any toxic or expensive metals. This electrocatalytic acyoxylation of phenyl ether resulted in chemoselective C-H bond functionalization to give a series of aryl ether products with acyloxy, hydroxyl and halogen group. In addition, cyclic voltammograms showed that the electrode was the first step to oxidize aromatic rings, and a possible mechanism was proposed based on the experimental results.