Electrochemically Assisted Friedlander Reaction: Highly Efficient and Sustainable Method for Quinoline Synthesis

Abstract

The Friedländer reaction is a well-established method for quinoline synthesis. However, it has significant limitations, including long reaction times, the use of environmentally harmful solvents and reagents, and significant waste generation. In this study, we present a simple, sustainable, efficient and one-step electrosynthetic strategy for the synthesis of quinolines from readily available nitro compounds using electric current. This reagent-free method operates under mild conditions with a constant-current electrolysis setup and achieves high conversion rates with excellent atom economy. Various substituted quinolines were successfully synthesised in good to excellent yields. In addition, cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential electrolysis studies were carried out to investigate the reaction mechanism of quinoline formation.