Electrochemical Trimerization of Catechol to 2,3,6,7,10,11-Hexahydroxytriphenylene Using a Flow Microreactor

抄録

In this study, we report one step electrochemical trimerization of catechol to 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene (HHTP) for the first time. Electrochemical trimerization was demonstrated in a flow microreactor, which offers advantages for reaction screening owing to short reaction time and small reaction scale, as well as avoiding the further oxidation of HHTP. The use of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) as a solvent was essential for the efficient production of HHTP. Computational simulation, pK_a calculation, and electrochemical measurements gave some important insights into the mechanism of the electrochemical oxidation of catechol in HFIP.