Stereoselective Cyclopropanation to Homoquinones from Phenacyl Carbenes Obtained through Quinone-Electrogenerated Bases.

A series of new (E) and (Z)-benzoyl-homoquinones have been prepared in good yield by the parent quinone-electrogenerated base (EGB) in the presence of α-bromoacetophenones or α-bromopropiophenone. The EGB, obtained when electrolysis of p-benzoquinone, or 1,4-naphthoquinone, is carried out at the reduction potential of their first voltammetric peak, conducted to electrogenerated phenacyl carbenes after halide evolution on the first obtained bromo-enolates. The stereoselectivity of the [2 + 2]cycloaddition of the carbene to the quinoid substrate is highly dependent on the electrode nature. Reaction mechanism proposal is discussed.

One-pot formation of 1,3,4-oxadiazol-2(3H)-ones and dibenzo[c,e]azepines by concomitant cathodic reduction of diazonium salts and phenanthrenequinones.

The one-pot concomitant electrochemical reduction of phenanthrenequinones (1, 2) and arenediazonium salts (3a-f) led to the formation of 1,3,4-oxadiazol-2(3H)-ones (4a-f, 5a) and dibenzo[c,e]azepines (6a-f) when N-methylformamide was used as the solvent. A new pathway, different from those previously described with other aprotic solvents, is proposed. The experimental data support a radical mechanism for the electrochemical process followed by an internal rearrangement to give the products.

Facile conversion of o-quinones into 1,3-dioxoles.

[reaction: see text] o-Quinones are transformed into the corresponding 1,3-dioxoles in a single-step process by cathodic reduction in dichloromethane.

Paired electrosynthesis of cyanoacetic acid.

Cyanoacetic acid is formed by cathodic reduction of CO(2) and anodic oxidation of the tetraalkylammonium salt anion; the process is conduced in acetonitrile using a divided cell with a medium porosity glass-frit diaphragm. A mechanism for this paired electrochemical reaction is proposed.

Electrosynthesis of 3-chloro-1,4-disubstituted-2(1H)- quinolinones and 3,3-dichloro-4-hydroxy-1,4-disubstituted- 3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolinones, as well as a new convenient process to dioxindoles.

Cathodic reduction of N-(2-acyl(or aroyl)phenyl)-2,2,2,-trichloro-N-alkylacetamide at -1.2 V (vs SCE) under aprotic conditions yields 3-chloro-1,4-disubstituted-2(1H)-quinolinones (1) as the major product. When the reaction is carried out at -0.8 V (vs SCE), 3,3-dichloro-4-hydroxy-1,4-disubstituted-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolinones (2) and 1,4-disubstituted-1,4-dihydro-quinoline-2,3-dione (3) are formed. Ring contraction of 2 and 3 in aqueous sodium hydroxide resulted in the formation of 3-hydroxy-1,3-dihydroindol-2-ones (5). The most plausible reaction mechanisms are proposed.

Preparation of 2,6-dimethyl-4-arylpyridine- 3,5-dicarbonitrile: a paired electrosynthesis.

Electrolysis of benzylthiocyanate, benzyl chloride, p-methylbenzyl chloride, p-methoxybenzyl chloride, or toluene in acetonitrile, at platinum electrodes in a two compartments cell divided by a glass-frit diaphragm, affords 2,6-dimethyl-4-arylpyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile as major product.