Electrosynthesis of nitrogen heterocycles using environmentally friendly methodologies

Cyclic voltammetry and constant-current electrolysis in a one-compartment cell with a sacrificial anode has been used to study the indirect electroreduction of N-allyl-α-haloamides by electrogenerated Ni(I) complexes conducted in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and acetonitrile (ACN) and the results were compared with those obtained in protic solvents such as EtOH and EtOH–H2O mixtures. It was observed that the indirect electrochemical reduction of N-allyl-α-haloamides led to the corresponding lactams and the yields and selectivities obtained in EtOH and EtOH–H2O were much better than those obtained in DMF or ACN.