Synthesis of rutaecarpine alkaloids an electrochemical cross dehydrogenation coupling reaction

Substrates are directly oxidized at the anode without using any metal catalyst and oxidant to obtain a series of nitrogen heterocyclic compounds, including benzimidazoles and quinolinones. These compounds are highly tolerant to various functional groups and heterocycle-containing substrates. In addition, natural alkaloids, such as rutaecarpine and deoxyvasicinone, can be synthesized by this method. We have developed a metal- and oxidant-free method for the synthesis of rutaecarpine alkaloids via an electrochemical CDC reaction.