Electrocatalytic diazidation of alkenes with modified electrodes coated by Cu nanoparticles

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.