Organocatalysis and organic electrosynthesis as an alternative for zingerone preparation

This study presents a novel and efficient method for synthesizing zingerone through a combination of organocatalysis and organic electrosynthesis. The process begins with the aldol condensation of vanillin and acetone using in situ generated morpholinium trifluoroacetate organocatalyst. This step is followed by the electrochemical reduction of the resulting enone intermediate using a simple setup employing graphite electrodes, KBr as electrolyte and water as the proton source. This approach allows for a simple and safe strategy to access zingerone, significantly enhancing the reaction's efficiency. Notably, the method's simplicity eliminates the need for hazardous reagents and solvents, making it an environmentally friendly alternative.