Electrochemical Intramolecular C—H/O—H Cross‐Coupling of 2‐Arylbenzoic Acids

A synthetic protocol to lactones by electro‐oxidative induced C—H activation of 2‐arylbenzoic acids has been developed. By using Na₂SO₄ aqueous solution as a cheap and green supporting electrolyte, different 2‐arylbenzoic acids could provide the corresponding lactones in 30%—90% yields. This reaction could be conducted on a gram scale with a good efficiency as well as a high utility for natural product synthesis.