Simple and versatile electrochemical synthesis of highly substituted 2,1-benzisoxazoles

A sustainable, general and scalable electrochemical protocol for direct access to 3-(acylamidoalkyl)-2,1-benzisoxazoles by cathodic reduction of widely accessible nitro arenes is established. The method is characterised by a simple undivided set-up under constant current conditions, inexpensive and reusable carbon-based electrodes, and environmentally benign reaction conditions. The versatility of the developed protocol is demonstrated on 39 highly diverse examples with up to 81% yield. A 50-fold scale-up electrolysis highlights its relevance for preparative applications.