Electrochemical synthesis of new catechol derivatives

Electrochemical oxidation of catechols (1a–e) has been studied in the presence of 2-acetylcyclopentanone (3) as a nucleophile in aqueous solutions, using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. The results indicate that the quinones derived from catechols (1a–e), participate in Michael addition reactions with anion of 2-acetylcyclopentanone (3) and via EC mechanism pathway, converted to corresponding catechol derivatives (4a–e). In this work, we derived novel catechol derivatives with good yields based on electrochemical oxidation in aqueous solutions, at carbon electrode in an undivided cell, using environmentally friendly method.