Electrochemical methoxylation of vinyl ethers: a novel anodic dimerization reaction

Abstract

Electrolysis of vinyl ethers in methanol using a platinum anode and nickel cathode was found to yield the corresponding 1,2-dimethoxylation products (60–66%) and products resulting from a tail-to-tail dimerization to succindialdehyde acetals (20–22%). A mechanism involving radical cation intermediates is proposed.