Electrochemical Hydroxylation of -Bromoacetophenones: Access to -Hydroxyacetophenones

Herein, a new method has been developed for the synthesis of various alpha-hydroxyacetophenones via an electro-oxidation process. It involves electrocatalytic hydroxylation via debromination of C(sp(3))-Br bond. Here, simultaneous breaking of carbon-bromine (C-Br) bond and formation of a new carbon-oxygen (C-O) bond has been achieved through electrolysis of H2O using binary mixture of water and DMSO. The protocol features easy performance, oxidant and base-free mild conditions and short reaction time.