Electrochemical Benzylic C-H Functionalization with Isocyanides

We report the challenging direct carbamoylation or cyanation of benzylic C(sp3)-H bonds with an isocyanide via an electrochemical process giving rise to structures which are encountered in several biologically relevant compounds and drugs. This transformation proceeds in mild conditions without the need of external oxidant and avoids the necessity to start from a prefunctionalized benzylic substrate or the deployment of the cation pool method. Anodic oxidation of the benzylic position and subsequent addition of the isocyanide leads to the formation of a C-C bond and to a nitrilium cation which hydrolysis leads to alpha-aryl acetamide derivatives, while elimination of a t-butyl cation delivers alpha-aryl acetonitrile derivatives.