Electroreduction of quinones under aprotic conditions

The electrochemical reduction of a series of quinones in DMF, acetonitrile and 1,2-dichloroethane under controlled potential conditions and in the presence/absence of benzene diazonium tetrafluoroborate. is presented. It provides an interesting entry to new hydroxycarboxamides, dioxins, cyanomethylated derivatives, and other useful compounds. The electrochemical behaviour of these systems and mechanistic proposals are given. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.