Rapid Access to Triarylmethanes (TRAMs) Enabled by Direct Electrolysis of Indolizines with Carbonyls

A fast, scalable, transition metal-free,
electrochemical sp2 geminal functionalization of carbonyls
enabled by anodic
oxidation of non-prefunctionalized chromone-fused indolizines to access
the triarylmethanes (TRAMs) is disclosed for the first time. This
momentary electrochemical approach features the use of readily available
carbonyls, implantation of the C(sp3) center (well-known
for dramatically improving biological active potency), a broad substrate
scope, and excellent yields of TRAMs with fluorescence properties.