Diversity in electrochemical oxidation of dihydroxybenzoic acids in the presence of acetylacetone. A green method for synthesis of new benzofuran derivatives

Electrochemical oxidation of diol derivatives of benzoic acid (1-3) have been studied in the presence of acetylacetone (4) as the nucleophile in aqueous solutions, using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. The results indicate that the quinones derived from dihydroxybenzoic acids (1a-3a) participate in Michael addition reactions with acetylacetone (4) and via various mechanisms convert to the corresponding benzofurans (1d-3d). In this work, we derive various products with good yields based on electrochemical oxidation under controlled potential conditions in aqueous solutions, without toxic reagents and solvents at a carbon electrode in an undivided cell, using an environmentally friendly method.