Electrochemical conversions of 5-oxo-1,4-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]pyridine derivatives

The electrochemical oxidation and reduction potentials of 9 derivatives of 5-oxo-1,4-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]pyridine in acetonitrile on a glassy graphite disk electrode have been established. Indenodihydropyridines are oxidized with considerably greater difficulty and reduced considerably more easily than the corresponding 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl derivatives of 1,4-dihydropyridines which is explained by the presence of the cyclopentane fragment which ensures the coplanarity of the carbonyl groups with the aminovinyl system of the heterocycle. The mechanism of electrooxidation has been studied by the rotating disk electrode with a ring method which revealed the reasons for the process.