Silver encapsulated copper salen complex: efficient catalyst for electrocarboxylation of cinnamyl chloride with CO2.

An active catalyst, [Cu]@Ag composite, was synthesized for the first time and used as a cathode for electrocarboxylation of cinnamyl chloride with CO2. β,γ-Unsaturated carboxylic acids were obtained with excellent yield and moderate selectivity. Moreover, reasonable yields and selectivities of carboxylic acids were also achieved with several allylic halides and aryl halides.