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

Abstract

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, pKa calculation, and electrochemical measurements gave some important insights into the mechanism of the electrochemical oxidation of catechol in HFIP.

Keywords

• 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene
• flow microreactor
• electrochemical trimerization
• 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol