Synthesis and electrochemical study of new 3-(hydroxyphenyl)benzo[f]coumarins

•New hydroxyl substituted 3-arylbenzo[f]coumarins (compounds 6–10) have been designed and synthesized.•The hydroxyl substituted 3-arylbenzo[f]coumarins are compounds with important antioxidant properties.•The hydroxyl substituted 3-arylbenzo[f]coumarins structure/electrochemical relationship was clarified.•The electrochemistry oxidation investigated and the redox mechanisms proposed.

New hydroxyl substituted 3-arylbenzo[f]coumarins (compounds 6–10) have been designed and synthesized. Their electrochemical redox mechanisms, and the influence of one or two hydroxyl groups, in different positions on the coumarin scaffold, was investigated by cyclic, differential pulse and square wave voltammetry, at a glassy carbon electrode, at different pHs, and a comparative study was performed. The structural information obtained enabled a better understanding of the structure/electrochemical relationship of hydroxyl substituted 3-arylbenzo[f]coumarins, compounds with important antioxidant properties.