# Electrochemical synthesis of cyclic biaryl λ3-bromanes from 2,2’-dibromobiphenyls

## TL;DR

A new electrochemical method is presented for making cyclic biaryl λ3-bromanes without using hazardous chemicals.

## Contribution

A mild electrochemical synthesis of cyclic biaryl λ3-bromanes using anodic oxidation of 2,2'-dibromo-1,1'-biphenyl.

## Key findings

- Electrochemical oxidation of 2,2'-dibromo-1,1'-biphenyl yields cyclic biaryl λ3-bromanes.
- The method works for both symmetrically and non-symmetrically substituted compounds.
- The process is mild and avoids the use of hazardous diazonium salts.

## Abstract

The remarkable nucleofugality of bromoarenes in diarylbromonium species renders them particularly suitable for the generation of arynes for subsequent use in a wide range of synthetic applications. The common approach to generate cyclic biaryl λ3-bromanes is based on thermal decomposition of hazardous diazonium salts. Herein, we disclose a mild and straightforward approach to diarylbromonium species by direct anodic oxidation of 2,2'-dibromo-1,1'-biphenyl. The electrochemical method provides access to a range of symmetrically and non-symmetrically substituted cyclic biaryl λ3-bromanes in moderate yields.