Sustainable Electrochemical Formylation of Enamine through Decarboxylation of Glyoxylic Acid

We report an electrochemical strategy for the diastereoselective formylation of enamines via the anodic decarboxylation of glyoxylic acid. This sustainable, metal- and chemical-oxidant-free protocol enables efficient C–C bond formation under mild conditions, affording formylated products in yields of up to 87% across 32 examples with good diastereoselectivity. Furthermore, an electrolyte-free variant was developed that demonstrated broad applicability to diverse substrates, highlighting the practical robustness of the approach. Mechanistic investigations combining electrochemical analysis and control experiments indicate a sequence of ionic and radical events that drive product formation. This work underscores the potential of electrochemical strategies to enable selective and sustainable C–C bond construction.