Electrolyte-free paired electrosynthesis of some pyrimidine derivatives using flow electrochemistry as a powerful technology

Abstract

Many of electrochemical synthesis in batch type mode suffers from some limitations. Long reaction times and the necessity for supporting electrolytes are the limitations of batch cells. This study reports for the first time the application of an electrochemical flow cell for the synthesis of some worthwhile pyrimidine derivatives under pair electrochemical process and free supporting electrolytes conditions. Using this procedure, a wide range of catechol derivatives in the presence of barbituric acids derivatives have been turned into the corresponding pyrimidine derivatives in excellent yields. It has been confirmed that different type of reactions can be fulfilled effectively using this flow cell. As well as this, it has been shown that this strategy can be scalable. The present flow cell is easily operated under constant current regime, mild and green conditions. This approach afforded the related products with easier purification and in higher yields, conversion, and diminished residence time compared to the reaction in a conventional batch type cell.