Electrochemical oxidative cleavage of C(OH)–C bonds for sustainable synthesis of esters

The direct oxidative esterification of alcohols represents a transformative method in synthetic chemistry, offering facile access to valuable ester compounds. In this work, we present an electrochemical strategy for the oxidative cleavage of C(OH)-C bonds in alcohols, enabling efficient conversion to aromatic esters with moderate to excellent yields. Mechanistic investigations support a radical-mediated C-C bond cleavage pathway. This transition metal catalyst- and chemical oxidant-free approach proceeds under mild conditions <i>via</i> anodic oxidation, providing a sustainable alternative to conventional oxidative esterification strategies.