Electro-organic Mediated Synthesis of bis-1,3,4-Oxadiazoles and Evaluation of Their Antifungal Activity

A novel, facile and eco-compatible electrochemical synthesis of substituted bis-1,3,4-oxadiazoles have been carried out at platinum electrode via controlled potential electrocyclization of ethylenediacylthiosemicarbazone in the presence of acetonitrile as non-aqueous solvent and LiClO4 as supporting electrolyte. The reaction products were characterized by spectroscopic methods and mechanism was deduced with the help of cyclic voltammetry. The fungicidal activity of product 6a–6f was evaluated against fungal strain Aspergillus flavus and Alternaria solani. Excellent yields with high atom economy, shortest reaction time and easy work-up are attractive features in context to green chemistry.