Synthesis of N,N‐Disubstituted Hydrazines by Electrocatalytic Addition of Hydrazines to α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

Abstract

A strategy for the synthesis of N,N‐disubstituted hydrazines via the electrocatalytic addition of hydrazine to α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds is reported. The reaction was carried out under constant current electrolytic conditions in an undivided cell. Using this methodology, various N,N‐disubstituted hydrazines are prepared with 57‐94% yields in 40 min. By adding cyclohexanone and acetic acid to the reaction mixture of N,N‐disubstituted hydrazines and heating for 2 h, a "one‐pot" synthesis of N‐substituted indoles has also been developed. Furthermore, based on cyclic voltammetry and controlled experiments, a plausible mechanism involving the radical pathway is proposed.