Electrochemical Hydrogenation of Acetophenone and Methyl-4-isobutylacetophenone in a Two-phase Water–Organic System Containing -Cyclodextrin

Abstract

The possibility of the formation of inclusion complexes based on methyl-4-isobutylphenyl ketone, β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), and o-hydroxy propylated β-cyclodextrin in an aqueous phosphate buffer is demonstrated by methods of NMR spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Preparative electroreduction of acetophenone and methyl-4-isobutylphenyl ketone is performed on a lead electrode in aqueous phosphate and acetate buffers in the absence and presence of β-CD and the composition of products of electrochemical reactions is ascertained. It is shown that the products of reduction of ketones are corresponding alcohols and pinacones. The possibility of asymmetric electrochemical hydrogenation of ketones in the presence of β-CD, which yields relevant chiral alcohols, is shown.