CeIn Bimetallic Single-Atom Catalysts for Electrochemical Synthesis of α-Hydroxy Acids from CO ₂ and Alcohols

Electrocatalytic cross-coupling of benzyl alcohol with CO 2 provides a valuable strategy for the synthesis of α-hydroxy acids that serve as important synthetic targets owing to their dual functional groups and broad pharmaceutical applications. However, the development of an efficient catalytic system remains a challenge, especially when phenethyl alcohol is employed as the substrate, as it often results in inferior reactivity. Herein, we report a tandem electrochemical strategy for the sustainable synthesis of α-hydroxy acids from alcohols and CO 2, using Br – as a redox mediator. The key to the success of this strategy lies in the identification of a CeIn bimetallic SAC as the cathode. We demonstrate that Ce sites activate ketone substrates through oxygen coordination, while In sites promote CO 2 chemisorption, enabling the synthesis of 2-phenyllactic acid from acetophenone with a yield of 85%. In a membrane-free system, 2-phenyllactic acid can be directly produced from phenethyl alcohol and CO 2, achieving a yield of up to 55%. This work establishes a green paradigm for C1 resource valorization and the synthesis of bioactive molecules.