Electroselective and Controlled Reduction of Cyclic Imides to Hydroxylactams and Lactams

An efficient and practical electrochemical method for selective reduction of cyclic imides has been developed using a simple undivided cell with carbon electrodes at room temperature. The reaction provides a useful strategy for the rapid synthesis of hydroxylactams and lactams in a controllable manner, which is tuned by electric current and reaction time, and exhibits broad substrate scope and high functional group tolerance even to reduction-sensitive moieties. Initial mechanistic studies suggest that the approach heavily relies on the utilization of amines (e.g., i-Pr2NH), which are able to generate α-aminoalkyl radicals. This protocol provides an efficient route for the cleavage of C–O bonds under mild conditions with high chemoselectivity.