An Efficient Electrochemical Method for the Synthesis of Quinoxaline-dione Derivatives from Oxidation of Catechols in the Presence of N 1 , N 2 - dibenzylethane-1,2-diamine

Abstract

A series of 1,4-dibenzyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoxaline-6,7-dione derivatives (6a-6c) were electrosynthesized. In the present work, electrochemical oxidation of catechols 1a-1d in the presence of the N 1,N2-dibenzylethane-1,2-diamine (3) as a nucleophile, has been studied in aqueous solutions using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry (CPC) methods. Various parameters such as the applied potential, pH of the electrolytic solution, cell configuration and also purification techniques, were carried out to optimize the yields of corresponding products. New quinoxaline-6,7-dione derivatives were synthesized in excellent yield using an electrochemical procedure coupled with a Schiff base as a facile, efficient and practical method. © 2012 The Electrochemical Society.