With
cyanopyridines and alkyl bromides as coupling partners, an
electrochemically driven C4-selective decyanoalkylation has been established
to access diverse 4-alkylpyridines in one step. The reaction proceeds
through the single electron reduction/radical–radical coupling
tandem process under mild electrolytic conditions, achieving the cleavage
of the C(sp2)–CN bond and the formation of C(sp3)–C(sp2). The practicality of this protocol
is illustrated by no sacrificial anodes, a broad substrate scope,
and gram-scale synthesis.