Pairing Iron and Nickel Catalysis for Electrochemical Esterification of Aryl Halides with Carbazates.

We report an electrocatalytic approach for esterification of aryl halides by pairing iron and nickel electrocatalysis. The reaction involves anodically iron-catalyzed oxidation of carbazates to produce alkoxycarbonyl radicals. The carbon-centered radicals then enter nickel catalysis that is powered by cathodic reduction to deliver the radical coupling products. Mechanistic data are consistent with arylnickel(II) species as the key intermediates enabling the desired carbon-carbon bond formation.