Electrochemical oxidation of catechol and 4-methylcatechol in the presence of p-toluenesulfinic acid by cyclic voltammograms : application to electrosynthesis

Electrochemical oxidation of catechol (1a) and 4-methylcatechol (1b) in the presence of p-toluenesulfinic acid as a nucleophile has been studied in an aqueous solution using cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential coulometry[1]. The results indicate that compounds 1a and 1b react with I, and 4 reacts with I via a Michael addition reaction leading to the sulfones 3a,3b respectively. Products were obtained in good yield and purity.The mechanism of oxidation was deduced from voltammetric data and by coulometry at controlled potential. The products have been characterized after purification by IR, 1H-NMR, and elemental analysis [2,3].