Voltammetric oxidation of 2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidin-5-carboxamides: Substituent effects

Abstract

Electrochemical oxidation of a series of 20 substituted 2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidin-5-carboxamides (THPMs) in acetonitrile has been studied using voltammetric methods at a glassy carbon electrode to investigate the influence of the substituents on the 4- and 5-positions of the heterocyclic ring. Analysis of the results shows that the electronic nature and steric hindrance of the substituents, especially their orientations toward the heterocyclic ring, determine their effects on the oxidation potential. Analysis of the computational results obtained at the DFT-B3LYP/6-31++G* level of theory suggests a mechanism in which the first electron removal occurs from either the N1 of the heterocyclic ring or N17 of the amide substitution. This process is followed by a fast proton removal resulting in the formation of stable allylic and/or benzylic radicals which then undergo further oxidation to the 2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyrimidin-5-carboxamides (DHPMs). © 2011 American Chemical Society.