New method of zinc activation by electrochemistry: synthetic applications to the Blaise reaction

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(93)83045-W

A new electrochemical zinc metal activation method based on the cathodic reduction of a catalytic amount of zinc bromide in the presence of a zinc anode is described.This procedure is applied to the coupling of α-bromoesters with nitriles, and affords β-ketoesters in good yield.