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 Br− was oxidized to Br2 and this generated Br2 oxidized alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds while Sn2+ was reduced to Sn0 on graphite cathode. Then the produced metallic tin mediated allylation of the carbonyl compounds with allyl bromide to generate the corresponding homoallylic alcohols. 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 useful products without the sacrifice of the electrode materials.