Selective and efficient electrocatalytic way to spirobarbituric dihydrofurans

Electrocatalytic cyclization of 6-hydroxy-5-[(2-hydroxy-6-oxocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)(aryl)methyl]-1,3-dimethylpyrimidine-2,4-(1H,3H)-diones in alcohols in an undivided cell in the presence of sodium halides results in selective formation of substituted spirobarbituric dihydrofurans in 82–93% yields. Crystal structure of 3-(3-bromophenyl)-1′,3′,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2′,4-dihydrospiro[benzofuran-2,5′-pyrimidine]-2′,4,4′,6′(1′H,3′H)-tetraone has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction data.