Hydroxyacids have been prepared via the nickel-catalysed electrochemical arylation of ethyl acrylate from an ortho-substituted aryl bromide. Protection and deprotection steps have been selected in terms of suitability and efficiency. The lactonisation was performed according to an already reported method. Two-dimensional NMR analysis has been used to ascertain the structure of the lactones formed.
electrochemical arylation - nickel catalysis - medium ring lactones