Kinetic study of electrochemically induced michael reactions of o-quinones with Meldrum's acid derivatives. Synthesis of highly oxygenated catechols.

Electrochemical oxidation of catechols has been studied in the presence of Meldrum's acid derivatives as nucleophiles in aqueous solution, by means of cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. Catechols in the Michael addition reaction react with Meldrum's acids to form adducts that can undergo electrooxidation. Such products were obtained in good yields as confirmed by controlled potential electrosynthesis. Such products can be generated in aqueous solutions by means of electrosynthesis, using a carbon electrode in an undivided cell. Furthermore, the homogeneous rate constants of the chemical reaction interposed between electron transfers were estimated by comparing the experimental cyclic voltammetric curves with the digitally simulated ones.