Electrocatalytic carboxylation of aromatic ketones with carbon dioxide in ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazoliumtetrafluoborate to α-hydroxy-carboxylic acid methyl ester

► A new electrochemical procedure for carboxylation of aromatic ketones with CO2 to α-hydroxycarboxylic acid methyl ester was investigated. ► The synthesis was carried out in ionic liquid under mild conditions, without toxic solvents and catalysts. ► α-Hydroxycarboxylic acid methyl ester could be prepared in moderate to good yields (62%) under optimized conditions. ► Moreover, the ionic liquid was successfully recycled.