Aqueous electrosynthesis of carbonyl compounds and the corresponding homoallylic alcohols in a divided cell

An aqueous paired electrosynthesis is studied in a divided cell. On graphite anode the generated Br2 oxidized alcohol to the corresponding carbonyl compounds while on graphite cathode Sn2+ was reduced to Sn0. Then the produced metallic tin mediated the allylation of the carbonyl compounds with allyl bromide to generate the corresponding homoallylic alcohol. In the reaction the mediators (Sn and Br2) were generated in situ and could be reused via the electrolysis. Both working electrode and the counter electrode were utilized to generate the products simultaneously without the sacrifice of electrode materials.