Electrochemical synthesis of new quinone-imines with assisted of 4-ethynylaniline and para-toluidine as nucleophile

Abstract

Electrochemical oxidation of 3 and 4 substituted catechols in the presence of 4-ethynylaniline and para-toluidine as a nucleophile in acetonitrile/ sodium acetate 0.15 M (30/70) solution has been carried out in detail with employing the cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential coulometry methods. The results show that the o-benzoquinones derived from these catechols participate in Michael type reaction with these nucleophiles to form the corresponding new p-quinone imines. We derived some new p-quinone-imines derivatives with good yields based on the electrochemical oxidation in the controlled potential situation, without toxic reagents and solvents, at the carbon electrode, and in an undivided cell.