Facilitating Ir-Catalyzed C–H Alkynylation with Electrochemistry: Anodic Oxidation-Induced Reductive Elimination

An electrochemical approach in promoting directed C–H alkynylation with terminal alkyne via iridium catalysis is reported. This work employed anodic oxidation of Ir­(III) intermediate (characterized by X-ray crystallography) to promote reductive elimination, giving the desired coupling products in good yields (up to 95%) without the addition of any other external oxidants. This transformation is suitable for various directing groups with H2 as the only byproduct, which warrants a high atom economy and practical oxidative C–C bond formation under mild conditions.