Continuous-Flow Microfluidic Electrochemical Synthesis: Investigating a New Tool for Oxidative Chemistry

A continuous-flow microfluidic electrochemical device (Flux Module) has been designed and evaluated as a practical new laboratory tool to facilitate electrochemical synthetic transformations. Four- and six-electron benzylic oxidations are reported to illustrate the utility afforded by a unique route of synthesis using this technology. Through the utilization of an electron-rich substrate (p-methoxytoluene), a continuous-flow electrochemical oxidation process was optimized. Using a general continuous-flow protocol, a series of diverse tolyl-based substrates were evaluated and the resulting data are reported. The Flux Module results were correlated with the oxidation potential of each substrate as measured by cyclic voltammetry. This established a trend regarding the nature of available oxidation product profiles using this synthesis platform.