Electrooxidation of 4-methylcatechol in the presence of barbituric acid derivatives

Electrooxidation of 4-methylcatechol (1) in the presence of 1,3-dimethylbarbituric acid (2a) and 1,3-diethylthiobarbituric acid (2b) as nucleophiles has been studied in detail by cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. The results indicate that 1 can be oxidized to its related o-benzoquinone (1a) and without conversion to its quinone methide tautomeric form, via an ECEC mechanism pathway, is converted to barbiturate derivatives (5a–b). The electrochemical synthesis of 5a–b have been successfully performed in one-pot in an undivided cell.