Electrocatalytic Anaerobic Oxidation of Benzylic Amines Enabled by Ferrocene-Based Redox Mediators

The generation and functionalization of carbon- or nitrogen-centered radicals are of great interest for their potential synthetic utility. Here, we report the anaerobic electrocatalytic oxidation of two primary benzylic amines, benzylamine and 2-picolylamine, in the presence of a catalytic quantity of an electron deficient ferrocene derivative as a single-electron redox mediator. The use of the appropriate redox mediator prevented fouling of the electrode surface and significantly decreased the potential at which the catalytic oxidation reaction occurred. Simulation of the electrochemical results revealed an E_rC_i' catalytic process between the redox mediator and both substrates and significant difference in the electron transfer rate between the two substrates and electrochemically oxidized mediator. Through anaerobic controlled-potential electrolysis, we demonstrated a method with a Faradaic efficiency of 90% forming the desired coupled imine product of benzylamine oxidation while avoiding an excess of problematic overoxidation, hydrolysis, and other side reactions. Based on the electrochemical data along with the product analyses using IR and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies, the proposed mechanistic steps for the redox mediated electrocatalytic process were laid out.