An unexpected oxidative decarboxylation reaction of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid in the synthesis of new dibenzyltetrahydroquinoxalinediones

Chemical and electrochemical oxidation of different catechols were carried out in the presence of N,N′-dibenzylethylenediamine (DBEDA) in a phosphate buffer/acetonitrile solution for the synthesis of different new dibenzyltetrahydroquinoxalinedione derivatives. The oxidation of catechol (1a), 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (1e), and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (1d) led to the same product, probably due to the decarboxylation reaction of intermediates. An oxidative decarboxylation reaction of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (1d) has been reported before, while an unexpected oxidative decarboxylation reaction of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (1e) in the presence of DBEDA is reported for the first time.

Graphical abstractDownload full-size imageSynthesis of different dibenzyltetrahydroquinoxalinedione derivatives.