Electrocatalytic dehalogenation of α-bromoketones in the presence of Cp2TiCl2

Processes of direct and electrocatalytic (in the presence of electrochemically reduced Cp2TiCl2) reduction of three α-bromoketones containing the C(sp3)-Br or C(sp2)-Br bond, viz., 2-bromo-and 2,6-dibromo-4,4-dimethylcyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ones and α-bromo-acetophenone, were studied by cyclic voltammetry and preparative electrolysis. In all cases, the dissociative electron transfer proceeds via the concerted mechanism. Preparative electrolysis of these α-bromoketones in the presence of Cp2TiCl2 affords the reductive debromination products in 40–80% yield at low cathodic potentials (−0.85 V vs. Ag/AgCl/KCl). In the case of 2,6-dibromo-4,4-dimethylcyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-one in the potentiostatic regime, only one bromine atom can be eliminated selectively.