Investigation of the electrochemical behavior of some catechols in the presence of 4,6-dimethylpyrimidine-2-thiol

Abstract

The mechanism of electrochemical oxidation of catechol (1a), 3-methylcatechol (1b), 3-methoxycatechol (1c) and 4-methylcatechol (1d) in the presence of 4,6-dimethylpyrimidine-2-thiol (3) as a nucleophile has been studied in an aqueous solution using cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential coulometry. The results indicate that the catechol derivatives (1a-d) are converted to 4,5-bis (4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-2-ylthio) benzene-1,2-diol derivatives (6a-c) and 3,5-bis (4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-2-ylthio)benzene-1,2-diol (6d) through Michael addition of 3 to anodically generated o-quinones (2a-d). The electrosynthesis of 6(a-d) has been successfully performed in an undivided cell in good yields and purities.