Mechanistic Investigation of the Electro-Oxidation of Catechols in the Presence of N-Methylbenzylamine at Room Temperature: Synthesis of New Quinone Derivatives

Abstract

Electro-oxidation of catechol derivatives has been studied in the presence of N-methylbenzylamine as nucleophile in phosphate buffer (c=0.15 M, pH=7)/ethanol solution using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry (CPC). Voltammetric data indicate that a 1,4-Michael addition of N-methylbenzylamine from its NH group to the electrochemically derived o-quinone via an ECE mechanism has occurred. Moreover, the progress of coulometry confirmed our electrochemical mechanism. The electrochemical synthesis of quinone derivatives has been successfully accomplished using CPC in a two-compartment cell and the products were characterised by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis.