The Electrochemical trans-Chloroformyloxylation of Unactivated Alkenes

An attempted aryl selenium-catalyzed formation of cis-chlorohydrins from alkenes was unsuccessful but led to an electrochemical investigation for the trans-selective chloroformyloxylation of cyclic and acyclic alkenes in moderate to good yields. Interestingly, when 1,1-disubstituted alkenes were used, the corresponding vinyl chloride derivatives were obtained, and the application of 1-phenylcyclohex-1-ene led to the formation of an allyl chloride derivative.