Facile and one-pot, electro-organic synthesis of a new bis-quinone by the ECCE mechanism in green media

Electrochemical oxidation of 4-methyl catechol (1a) is investigated in the presence of 1,3-indandione (3) as nucleophile in phosphate buffer solution (0.2 mol/L, pH 6) mixed with ethanol as organic green solvent (50/50) using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. The results indicated that quinones derived from electro-oxidation of 1a, participated in a 1,4-Michael addition reaction with 1,3-indandione (3) under ECCE mechanism. In this direction, a new bis-quinone was synthesized in high yield and good purity using a facile and convenient electrochemical pathway by carbon anode electrodes in an undivided cell.

Graphical abstractThe electro-oxidation of 4-methyl catechol has been studied in the presence of 1,3-indandione as nucleophile. The results obtained confirm the synthesis of a new bis-quinone via the electro-organic synthesis.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide