Indirect electrochemical oxidation of substituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to corresponding para-quinones with potassium bromide in water–chloroform medium

Indirect electrochemical synthesis of quinone derivatives of a series of substituted anthracene and naphthalene by the electrolysis of aqueous solution of potassium bromide (3.0 M) using Pt anode at constant current density (40 mA/cm2) has been carried out. These reactions resulted in good to excellent yields of the corresponding para-quinones as confirmed by physical and spectral data.