Pyridinium bromide as a new mediator for electrochemical transformations involving CH-acids

Pyridinium bromide has been tested as a new mediator for electrochemical synthesis of functionalized cyclopropane from alkylidenemalononitriles and CH-acids. The process was performed in an undivided cell with the use of substoichiometric amount of PyHBr that serves both as a mediator and a supporting electrolyte, and MeOH or MeCN as the solvents.