A Facile Electrochemical Method for the Synthesis of 5-Phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-ylthio-benzene-1,2-diol Derivatives

Electrochemical oxidation of catechols to corresponding o-quinones was successfully performed in aqueous solution by electrolysis at the controlled potentials. Quinones derived from catechols, participate in Michael addition reactions with 5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiol and via EC mechanism, converted to corresponding 5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-ylthio-benzene-1,2-diol derivatives (4 and 4'). The products have been characterized using IR, H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, X-ray, and mass spectral data.