Anti-Markovnikov hydration of unactivated α-alkenes, the direct addition of water to form terminal alcohols, remains a challenge in catalysis. Previous strategies either are limited on the olefin types, or do not use water directly as the source of oxygen and hydrogen. Here the authors present a paired electrocatalytic strategy that harnesses water splitting to achieve formal anti-Markovnikov hydration of alkenes in a divided cell.
- Yuan-Qiong Huang
- Xue Song
- Jianchun Wang
