Regioselective Electrochemical Cyclobutanol Ring Expansion to 1-Tetralones

Abstract

A mild electrochemical method for the regioselective preparation of 1-tetralones under environmentally friendly conditions from readily available cyclobutanols was developed. A series of aromatic- and heteroaromatic-fused 1-tetralones was accessed through ring expansion of the functionalized cyclobutanols via electrochemical generation of alkoxy radicals and intramolecular cyclization.