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Electrochemical Oxidation of Catechol and 4-tert-Butylcatechol in the Presence of 1-Methyl-1H-imidazole-2-thiol: Synthesis and Kinetic Study

L. Fotouhi^a,*, S. Asadi^a, E. Tammari^b, M.M. Heravi^a and D. Nematollahi^c

^aDepartment of Chemistry, School of Science, Alzahra University, P.O. Box 1993891176, Tehran, Iran
^bPayame Noor University (PNU), Iran
^cDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Bu-Ali-Sina University, P.O. Box 65174 Hamadan, Iran

Electrochemical oxidation of catechol 1a and 4-tert-butylcatechol 1b has been studied in the presence of 1-methyl-1Himidazole-
2-thiol 3 as nucleophile in aqueous solution, using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. The results
indicate the participation of catechol 1a and 4-tert-butylcatechol 1b in Michael reaction with 3 to form the corresponding catechol
thioethers 6a and 4b. Based on the observed EC mechanism, the homogeneous rate constants were estimated by comparing the
experimental cyclic voltammetric responses with digital simulated results.

Keywords: Catechol, Oxidation, Cyclic voltammetry, Mechanism, Kinetic