Electrochemically induced ring-opening/Friedel­Crafts arylation of chalcone epoxides catalyzed by a triarylimidazole redox mediator.

The indirect anodic oxidation of chalcone epoxides in the presence of electron-rich heteroarenes mediated by a triarylimidazole (Med) was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and controlled potential electrolysis. The CV results indicate that a homogeneous electron transfer between Med•+ and chalcone epoxides is facilitated by an electron-rich heteroarene that serves as an arylation reagent. The preparative scale electrolysis generated epoxide-ring-opened/Friedel­Crafts arylation products in moderate to good yields. The fact that only a catalytic amount of charge was required suggests that Med•+ initiates a chain reaction. In addition, overoxidation of the products is avoided even though their oxidation potential is less than that of the starting chalcone epoxides.

Triarylimidazole redox catalysts: electrochemical analysis and empirical correlations.

A series of triarylimidazoles was synthesized and characterized electrochemically. The synthetic route is general, providing a pathway to 30 redox mediators that exhibit a > 700 mV range of accessible potentials. Most of the triarylimidazoles display three oxidation peaks where the first redox couple is quasi-reversible. The electronic character of the substituents affects the oxidation potential. This is exemplified by a linear correlation between the first oxidation potential and the sum of the Hammett σ(+) substituent constants, as well as with a series of calculated ionization potentials. We close by putting forward a rule of thumb stating that for a given mediator, the upper limit of accessible potentials can be extended by at least 500 mV beyond the largest recorded value. A rationale, the conditions under which the rule is likely to apply, and an example are provided.

Novel triarylimidazole redox catalysts: synthesis, electrochemical properties, and applicability to electrooxidative C-H activation.

A new class of metal-free, easy to synthesize redox catalysts based on a triarylimidazole framework is described. With those synthesized thus far, one can access a potential range of ca. 410 mV. They proved to be useful mediators for the activation of benzylic C-H bonds under mild conditions.