Replacing nickel with graphite at the cathode was less effective with a 37% yield, while a more expansive platinum cathode afforded a similar yield of 53% (entries 14, 15). In the other hand at the anode, switching graphite to platinum led only to trace amounts of 4a due to a very poor conversion of 1a. could be detected (entry 16). It should be noted that the use of an electrochemical mediator to generate the benzyl radical A were ineffective.