ZIOC scientists have developed an electrochemical method for thiocyanation of barbituric acids

Modern organic chemistry sets itself the task of creating ever more efficient and environmentally friendly methods of synthesis. One of the directions is the replacement of "material" reagents with electric current, which significantly reduces waste as a result of the reaction.

Scientists from the Zelinsky Institute developed an electrochemical method for thiocyanation of barbituric acids using NH4SCN in an undivided cell at a record high current density (janode ≈ 50–70 mA/cm2). It should be noted that the majority of electrochemical thiocyanation processes are carried out with constant current electrolysis at low current density (janode < 10 mA/cm2). The electrosynthesis of organic substances is traditionally less selective with increasing current density, since the probability of side reactions on the electrodes becomes higher. In an attempt to achieve high cell performance, modern organic electrochemistry faces the question: To what extent can the current density and electrosynthesis productivity be increased without loss of selectivity? A study by scientists from the Institute of Organic Chemistry showed that a higher current density led to more efficient thiocyanation of the C-H fragment.

The resulting thiocyanate derivatives of barbituric acids exhibit fungicidal activity against pathogenic fungi, pathogens of agricultural crops, comparable to the activity of the well-known commercial fungicide azoxystrobin.

Source:

Oleg V. Bityukov, Andrey S. Kirillov, Pavel Yu. Serdyuchenko, Maria A. Kuznetsova, Valentina N. Demidova, Vera A. Vil and Alexander O. Terent’ev Electrochemical thiocyanation of barbituric acids. Org. Biomol. Chem., 2022, 20, 3629-3636. DOI: 10.1039/D2OB00343K.