Electrocatalytic diazidation of alkenes with modified electrodes coated by Cu nanoparticles

Abstract

Vicinal diamines are an important structural motif that has been widely used in biological, medicinal, and materials science. Transition-metal-catalyzed diazidation of alkene is a straightforward and efficient approach for vicinal diamines, which are unfavorably associated with excess oxidants and limited substrate scope for electron-deficient alkenes. Herein we report an electrocatalytic diazidation of alkenes with the electrode coated by Cu nanoparticles pyrolyzed from Cu(salen)-based metal-organic framework. This strategy is compatible with various alkenes including those electro-deficient ones. Remarkably, the modified electrode maintains high electrocatalytic activity for diazidation even after 15 cycles.