Quinone shuttling impels selective electrocatalytic alcohol oxidation: A hydrogen bonding-directed electrosynthesis

Today development of efficient catalytic systems for selective oxidation alcohols to aldehydes remains not only a major concern in basic chemistry research but also significant challenge the chemical industry. One promising green and sustainable approach increase selectivity as well waste reduction minimize use toxic and/or hazardous substances is electro-catalytic acceptorless dehydrogenation method. By that, it will be possible facilitate catalyst recovery reutilization producing hydrogen by-product. Quinones principal redox-active moieties within natural organic materials play key role electron-transport processes biological systems. Herein, by taking furfuryl alcohol (FA) dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) model reaction, 14 quinone derivatives from 3 families (benzoquinones (BQs), naphthoquinones (NQs), anthraquinones (AQs)) have been surveyed acceptor mediators. We demonstrate three-member ring quinones such 9,10-anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid (AQDS), which are stable during electrocatalysis, furfural with addition AQDS achieved. The effect assigned strong intermolecular interaction between FA dianion (Q2−) transformation aldehyde its regeneration production over cathode surface. This study assesses validates potential electrocatalytic mediators impel aldehydes.