Electrochemical oxidation of catechols (1a–c) has been studied in the presence of methyl acetoacetate (2a) and ethyl acetoacetate (2b) as nucleophiles in aqueous solution using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. The results indicate that the quinones derived from catechols (1a–c) participate in Michael addition reactions with 2a and 2b to form the corresponding benzofuran derivatives (3a–f). The electrochemical synthesis ...
