Reductive Dehalogenation towards Olefins Mediated by Phase-Transfer Electrocatalysis

Mild biphasic conditions enable dibutylviologen salts to act as both phase-transfer catalysts and electrocatalysts for the electroreduction of vicinal dibromides. Optimized experimental reaction conditions permit the production of the corresponding alkenes in competitive yields for a wide range of activated and nonactivated substrates, demonstrating good functional-group tolerance.