<br/>The electrochemical synthesis offers advantages over traditional organic synthesis. The reactivity of reagents can be selectively tuned by using various electrode materials, electrolytes, and applied potentials. The irreversible electrooxidation of phenol is a viable route towards new phenol-based products. Often oxidation of phenol and formation of quinones takes place, however, other reactivities such as carbon-carbon bond formation are also possible. We have previously reported on the selective carbon-carbon dimerization of bulky phenols via electrochemical synthesis using varied applied potential. The selective homocoupling of 2,6-di(tert)butylphenol was achieved compared to other analogues. No selectivity was observed with the traditional chemical oxidation of such phenols. The products formed were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, NMR, GC-MS and X-ray diffraction. Current efforts in expanding the electrocatalysis to include diverse phenolics will also be described.

Tuning reaction selectivity via carbon-carbon bond formation of substituted phenols

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