Electrochemical Synthesis of a New Derivative of 1,4-Dihydroxybenzene: Embedded Nucleophile in the Structure of Electrophile

Abstract

In this work the electrochemical oxidation of 4-(Piperazin-1-yl)phenols (1a,b) was studied in the water, acetonitrile and nitromethan by means of cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. The results revealed that p-quinone-imines generated of oxidation 4-(Piperazin-1-yl)phenols after the hydrolysis reaction participate in Michael-addition reactions with released piperazine of hydrolysis reaction of p-quinone imines. The present work has led to the development of a facile and environmentally friendly electrochemical method for the synthesis of a new derivative of 1,4-dihydroxybenzene under green conditions. In addition, the effect of water as a solute on the electrochemical response of 4-(Piperazin-1-yl)phenols (1a,b) was examined in the acetonitrile (AN) and nitromethane (NM) solvent.