Preventing metal deposition by cathodic reduction is a formidable challenge during transition metal-catalysed electrosynthesis under direct current (DC) electrolysis conditions, especially for noble metal catalysis. To overcome the limitation of reductive metal deposition, we now report an asymmetric-waveform alternating current (AC) electrolysis protocol for silver-catalysed C-H phosphorylation, where our AC-based approach achieves smooth regeneration of the silver catalyst. A wide variety of alkynes, alkenes and (hetero)arenes are reactive under our AC electrolysis conditions, delivering the desired phosphite ester derivatives (88 examples) in good yields, while these products are often obtained in poor yields under DC electrolysis conditions. Notably, this protocol can further be expanded to Pd- and Cu-catalysed C-H functionalization. This electrochemical metal-catalysis strategy is distinct from traditional DC electrosynthesis and has great potential to be used in the fine organic chemical industry.

Asymmetric-waveform alternating current-promoted silver catalysis for C-H phosphorylation

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