Electrochemical oxidation of 4-ethynylaniline: A green electrochemical protocol for the synthesis of diazine compounds

Electrochemical oxidation of 4-ethynylaniline was studied in buffer solution/acetonitrile mixture in dif-ferent pHs. Our electrochemical data assert that the product of oxidation of 4-ethynylaniline is unstable in acidic and alkaline solution, and can be hydrolyzed in strong acidic (pH: 1-3) and alkaline (pH: 9-10) solutions. In continues, the electrochemical synthesis of 1,2-bis(4-ethynylphenyl)diazene was carried out by electrochemical oxidation of 4-ethynylaniline in aqueous HCl buffer and in a simple undivided cell, using carbon anode. To biological assessment (antibiotic activity), the molecular docking of some receptors and 1,2-bis(4-ethynylphenyl) diazene have been performed. The negative values of the binding affinity showed that azo product has an inhibitory effect against receptors. Also, the diffusion coefficient of 4-ethynylaniline in acetonitrile was determined using the single potential-step chronoamperometry technique. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.