Investigation of the electro-oxidation and oxidation of catechol in the presence of sulfanilic acid

The electrochemical oxidation of catechol (1) in the presence of sulfanilic acid (2) was investigated. Some electrochemical (EC) techniques such as cyclic voltammetry and controlledpotential coulometry were used. The oxidation reaction of catechol (1) with periodate in the presence of sulfanilic acid (2) was also investigated spectrophotometrically. The results indicate that the o-quinone derived from catechol participate in Michael addition reaction with sulfanilic acid (2). In addition, according to the ECE mechanism, the observed homogeneous rate constant (k _obs) for the reaction ofo-quinone derived from catechol (1) with sulfanilic acid (2) has been estimated by digital simulation of cyclic voltammograms.     

Electrochemical study of catechol and some 3-substituted catechols in the presence of 4-hydroxy coumarin: application to the electro-organic synthesis of new coumestan derivatives

Electrochemical oxidation of catechol (1d), 3-methylcatechol (1a), 3-methoxycatechol (1b) and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (1c) in the presence of 4-hydroxycoumarin as nucleophile in aqueous solution has been studied using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. The results indicate that (1a–1d) participating in a 1,4 (Michael) addition reaction convert to coumestan derivatives (5a–5d). The electrochemical synthesis of 5a–5d has been successfully performed in an undivided cell in good yield and purity.     

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.     

A mechanistic study on the intramolecular ionic Diels-Alder reaction of 2-methyl-3,9,11-tridecatriene-2-ol and 2,11-dimethyl-1,3,9,11-dodecatetraene

Intramolecular ionic Diels-Alder reaction of 2-methyl-3,9,11-tridecatriene-2-ol (1) was studied under acidic conditions. Treatment of 2-methyl-3,9,11-tridecatriene-2-ol (1) with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid yielded 7-methyl-8-isopropenyl-1,2,3,4,4aR^∗,7R^∗,8R^∗,8aS^∗-octahydronaphthalene (4) and (1Z)-1-((E)-but-2-enylidene)-2-(2-methylpropenyl)cyclohexane (5) through regioselective intramolecular ionic Diels-Alder reaction. The reaction appeared to proceed partly through a stepwise mechanism involving a carbocation intermediate. However, a concerted pathway rather than a stepwise one is suggested to be involved in the acid-catalyzed intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of 2,11-dimethyl-1,3,9,11-dodecatetraene (13).     

Electrochemical study of catechol and some of 3-substituted catechols in the presence of 1,3-diethyl-2-thio-barbituric acid. Application to the electro-organic synthesis of new dispirothiopyrimidine derivatives

Electrochemical oxidation of catechol (1a), 3-methylcatechol (1b) and 3-methoxycatechol (1c) in the presence of 1,3-diethyl-2-thiobarbituric acid (3) as a nucleophile in aqueous solution has been studied using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. The results indicate that (1a–1c) participating in a 1,4 (Michael) addition reaction converts to dispirothiopyrimidine derivatives (6a–6c). The electrochemical synthesis of 6a–6c has been successfully performed in an undivided cell in good yield and purity.     

Kinetics study of electrochemically induced michael reaction of benzoquinones with triphenylphosphine

The electrochemical oxidation of 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (1), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2) and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (3) were studied in the presence of triphenylphosphine (4) as a nucleophile using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. The results indicate that the quinones derived from oxidation of 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid participate in Michael addition reaction with triphenylphosphine (4). In this work, based on an EC mechanism, the observed homogeneous rate constants (k _obs) of the reaction of produced benzoquinones with triphenylphosphine (4) were estimated by comparing the experimental cyclic voltammograms with the digitally simulated results.     

Electrochemical synthesis of new benzodifurans

Electrochemical oxidation of catechol (1a) and 3-methyl-catechol (1b) has been studied in the presence of chloranilic acid (3) as a nucleophile in aqueous solution using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. In this work, we proposed a novel mechanism for the electrode process and derived variety of products with good yield and purity using controlled-potential electrochemical oxidation at a graphite electrode in a two compartment cell.     

An improved synthesis of ethyl cis-5-iodo-trans-2-methylcyclohexanecarboxylate, a potent attractant for the Mediterranean fruit fly

Both racemic ethyl 5-iodo-2-methylcyclohexanecarboxylate (1), known as Mediterranean fruit fly attractant ceralure B₁, and its (−)-(1R,2R,5R) enantiomer 1a were conveniently synthesized from commercially available racemic trans-6-methyl-3-cyclohexenecarboxylic acid 2 or its (1R,6R) enantiomer 2a. Key steps included an asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction using a sultam auxiliary and cyclization of the unwanted trans-5-iodo-trans-2-methylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid (8) to the intermediate lactone 7 (or 8a to 7a). The new method may circumvent chromatographic separations and seems amenable to scale-up.     

A synthesis of (±)-Δ2-α-Lycoren-7-one,the key intermediate for the total synthesis of (±)-lycorine

(±)-α-Lycoran-3,5-dione (14a) was prepared from octahydrophenanthridin-3-one (8b) obtained by two methods starting from 5-aryl-4-nitrocyclohexene (2) and 1-hydroxyl-2-aryl-5-oxo-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid (10), both of which were prepared by the Diels-Alder reaction of 3,4-methylenedioxy - ω - nitrostyrene with butadiene and the Robinson annelation of 3,4-methyl- enedioxy - phenylpyruvic acid (9) with methyl vinyl ketone, respectively, 14a was converted into (±)Δ²-α-lycoren-7-one (22b), which has been transformed into (±)-lycorine (1) by Torssell     

Electrochemical mechanism of spiro and zwitterionic Meisenheimer compounds: A potential fluorescence molecular switching system

The reaction between picric acid and an excess of diisopropylcarbodiimide yields a stable red–orange fluorescent zwitterionic spiro Meisenheimer complex of 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (ZW1). The acidic character of the iminium/guanidium moiety of the triazine ring in ZW1 permits to obtain the corresponding non-fluorescent spiro Meisenheimer Complex (MC2). The redox properties of both ZW1 and MC2 have been studied using electrochemical oxidation–reduction mechanism (established by cyclic voltammetry; classical and with ultramicroelectrodes) and controlled-potential electrolysis. A potential fluorescence switching system has been established, since fluorescent properties can be reversibly modulated by conversion of both states (ON, ZW1) and (OFF, MC2) upon reduction of ZW1 or oxidation of MC2.     

Electro-oxidation of catechols in the presence of benzenesulfinic acid. Application to electro-organic synthesis of new sulfone derivatives

The mechanism of electrochemical oxidation of catechol (1a), 3-methylcatechol (1b) and 3-methoxycatechol (1c) in the presence of benzenesulfinic acid (3) as a nucleophile has been studied in an aqueous solution using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. The results indicate that the catechol derivatives (1a–1c) are converted to sulfone derivatives (4a–4c) through Michael addition of benzenesulfinate to anodically generated o-quinones (2a–2c). The electrochemical synthesis of 4a–4c has been successfully performed in an undivided cell in good yields and purity.     

Studies of electron-depleted thiocarbonyl compounds—IV : Reactions of trithiocarbonate S,S-dioxides with 1,3-dienes and with tetramethylallene

The trithioörthocarboxylate S,S-dioxides B, a new class of compounds, can be conveniently prepared from trithiocarbonate S,S-dioxides 1 either by Diels-Alder reaction with suitable 1,3-dienes or by ene reaction with tetramethylallene. The monocyclic Diels-Alder adducts 4 readily lose sulfinic acid to yield the 2H-thiopyrans 5, while treatment of 4 with catalytic amounts of acid results in rearrangement to the isomeric Δ²-dihydrothiopyrans 6.     

An efficient preparation, crystal structures, and properties of monocarbenium-ion compounds stabilized by 3-guaiazulenyl and anisyl groups

Reaction of guaiazulene (1) with 2-methoxybenzaldehyde (2) in methanol in the presence of hexafluorophosphoric acid at 25 °C for 2 h gives (3-guaiazulenyl)(2-methoxyphenyl)methylium hexafluorophosphate (5a) in 93% yield. Similarly, reaction of 1 with 3-methoxybenzaldehyde (3) or 4-methoxybenzaldehyde (4) under the same reaction conditions as for 2 affords (3-guaiazulenyl)(3-methoxyphenyl)methylium hexafluorophosphate (6) (91% yield) or (3-guaiazulenyl)(4-methoxyphenyl)methylium hexafluorophosphate (7) (97% yield). The crystal structures as well as the spectroscopic, electrochemical, and chemical properties of these monocarbenium-ion compounds, possessing interesting resonance forms, stabilized by the 3-guaiazulenyl and anisyl (i.e., 2-, 3-, or 4-methoxyphenyl) groups are reported.     

Electrochemical Oxidation of 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural on Nickel Nitride/Carbon Nanosheets: Reaction Pathway Determined by In Situ Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy

2,5‐Furandicarboxylic acid was obtained from the electrooxidation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) with non‐noble metal‐based catalysts. Moreover, combining the biomass oxidation with the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) increased the energy conversion efficiency of an electrolyzer and also generated value‐added products at both electrodes. Here, the reaction pathway on the surface of a carbon‐coupled nickel nitride nanosheet (Ni₃N@C) electrode was evaluated by surface‐selective vibrational spectroscopy using sum frequency generation (SFG) during the electrochemical oxidation. The Ni₃N@C electrode shows catalytic activities for HMF oxidation and the HER. As the first in situ SFG study on transition‐metal nitride for the electrooxidation upgrade of HMF, this work not only demonstrates that the reaction pathway of electrochemical oxidation but also provides an opportunity for nonprecious metal nitrides to simultaneously upgrade biomass and produce H₂ under ambient conditions.     

An efficient electrochemical method for a unique synthesis of new derivatives of 7H-thiazolo[3,2-b]-1,2,4-triazin-7-one

The electrochemical oxidation of catechols (1a-c) has been studied in the presence of 6-methyl-1,2,4-triazine-3-thion-5-one 3 in aqueous sodium acetate, using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. A plausible mechanism for the oxidation of catechols and their reaction with 3 is presented. All the catechol derivatives (1a-c) were converted into 7H-thiazolo[3,2-b]-1,2,4-triazin-7-one derivatives (6a-c) through a Michael-type addition reaction of 3 to anodically generated o-quinones. The electrochemical syntheses of 6a-c were successfully performed in one pot in an undivided cell using an environmentally friendly method with high atomic economy.     

One-pot electrochemical synthesis of highly symmetric and conjugated coumarin derivative

A facile and one pot electrochemical synthesis of disubstituted hydroquinone generated from the electrochemical oxidation of 4-1-(4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl)ethanone (1) in the presence of 4-hydroxy-6,7-dimethylcoumarin (3) has been reported. The results revealed that p-quinone imine derived from oxidation of (1) participate in Michael addition reactions with 3 and followed by a hydrolysis reaction attain to the highly symmetric and conjugated coumarin derivative. We derived a new product in good yield based on controlled potential electrochemical oxidation at carbon electrode in a divided cell.     

Preparation, crystal structure, and spectroscopic, chemical, and electrochemical properties of (2E,4E)-4-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-1-(3-guaiazulenyl)-1,3-butadiene compared with those of (E)-2-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-1-(3-guaiazulenyl)ethylene

Wittig reaction of 3-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]propanal (5) with (3-guaiazulenylmethyl)triphenylphosphonium bromide (4) in ethanol containing NaOEt at 25 °C for 24 h under argon gives the title (2E,4E)-1,3-butadiene derivative 6E in 19% isolated yield. Spectroscopic properties, crystal structure, and electrochemical behavior of the obtained new extended π-electron system 6E, compared with those of the previously reported (E)-2-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-1-(3-guaiazulenyl)ethylene (12), are documented. Furthermore, reaction of 6E with 1,1,2,2-tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) in benzene at 25 °C for 24 h under argon affords a new Diels-Alder adduct 8 in 59% isolated yield. Along with spectroscopic properties of the [π4+π2] cycloaddition product 8, the crystal structure, possessing a cis-3,6-substituted 1,1,2,2-tetracyano-4-cyclohexene unit, is shown. Moreover, reaction of 6E with (E)-1,2-dicyanoethylene (DCNE) under the same reaction conditions as the above gives no product; however, this reaction in p-xylene at reflux temperature (138 °C) for four days under argon affords a new Diels-Alder adduct 9 in 54% isolated yield. Although reaction of 6E with DCNE in toluene at reflux temperature (110 °C) for four days under argon provides 9 very slightly, reaction of 6E with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) in toluene at reflux temperature for two days under argon yields a new Diels-Alder adduct 10, in 58% isolated yield, which upon oxidation with MnO₂ in CH₂Cl₂ at 25 °C for 1 h gives 11, converting a (CH₃)₂N-4″ into CH₃NH-4″ group, in 37% isolated yield. The crystal structure of 11 supports the molecular structure 10 possessing a partial structure cis-3,6-substituted 1,2-dimethoxycarbonyl-1,4-cyclohexadiene. The title basic studies on the above are reported in detail.     

A convergent paired electrochemical synthesis of new heterocyclic compounds. Reaction of benzoquinones with 3-Amino-4-hydroxycoumarin

Electrochemical oxidation of catechols (1) has been studied in the presence of cathodically generated 3-amino-4-hydroxycoumarin (3a) as a nucleophile in aqueous solutions, using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. The results indicate that the o-benzoquinones derived from catechols (1) participate in Michael addition reaction with 3-amino-4-hydroxycoumarin (3a) to form the corresponding new heterocyclic compounds (7) (oxidized form of coumestan derivatives). The electrochemical process consists of a multi-step including (a) cathodic reduction of 4-hydroxy-3-nitrocoumarin (3) to 3-amino-4-hydroxycoumarin (3a), (b) anodic oxidation of catechols (1) to related o-benzoquinone (2), (c) the Michael addition reaction of 3-amino-4-hydroxycoumarin (3a) to o-benzoquinone (2), and (d) anodic oxidation of formed adduct. The paired electrochemical synthesis of compounds 7a and 7b has been successfully performed in a one-pot process at carbon rods as working and counter electrodes in an undivided cell.     

Controlling silica surfaces using responsive coupling agents

The surface chemistry of silica was modified using coupling agents capable of participating in oxidation or in the Diels-Alder (and retro Diels-Alder) reactions. The synthesis of the latter coupling agents, using trialkoxysilane groups linked to a cyclopentadiene structure, was achieved by the condensation of sodium cyclopentadienolide with 1-chlorodimethylsilyl-3-triethoxysilylpropane to give 1-cyclopentadienyldimethylsilyl-3-trialkoxysilylpropane. The cyclopentadiene ring in this structure was shown to undergo normal Diels-Alder chemistry with maleimides or maleic anhydride to give 7-(dimethylsilylpropyltrialkoxysilane)-5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid anhydride. The retro Diels-Alder reaction of 7-(dimethylsilylpropyltrialkoxysilane)-5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid anhydride in solution was not very efficient: the adduct is very stable and only undergoes the retro Diels-Alder reaction at temperatures in excess of 200 °C. Once grafted to the surface, however, the retro Diels-Alder reaction was achieved at a level greater than 90% by use of thermolysis in the presence of free cyclopentadiene. In addition, a polyene-based coupling agent derived from squalene was prepared by hydrosilylation using HMe₂SiOSiMe₂CH₂CH₂Si(OEt)₃. Once grafted to the surface, oxidation by ozone led to ozonides that could be reduced to ketone/aldehyde groups. These in turn could be trapped by functional groups such as hydrazines to make surface-bound hydrazones. With both types of coupling agents, the surface energy and nature of the functional groups bound to the surface could be changed on demand in response to an external stimulus.     

Pd Nanostructures with High Tolerance to CO Poisoning in the Formic Acid Electrooxidation Reaction

Pd architectures such as nanobars and nanoparticles were synthetized by the polyol method using di-ethylene glycol as reaction media. The morphology, composition and electrocatalytic properties were investigated by transmission electronmicroscopy (TEM), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electrochemical measurements. The electrocatalytic activity of Pd nanostructures was tested in terms of formic acid electrooxidation reaction (FAOR) in acid media (0.5 M H₂SO₄) and compared with commercial Pd/XC-72 (Pd/C). Results from the electrochemical studies showed that Pdnanobars (PdNB/C) presented higher tolerance to the CO and CO₂ poisoning effect compared with Pd nanoparticles (PdNP/C) and commercial Pd/C. Furthermore, the onset potential toward formic acid electrooxidation at high concentration (1 M) on PdNB/C exhibited a negative shift ca. 100 mV compared with commercial Pd/C. Finally, PdNB/C in the presence of 1 M FA showed a lower poisoning degree compared with commercial Pd/C and PdNP/C.