The effect of electrolysis conditions on the oxidation of styrene in methanol

Article abstract of DOI:10.1007/BF00697143

Anodic oxidation of styrene (1) in methanol and the effect of the anion of the supporting electrolyte and of the anode material on this process have been studied.The most efficient conversion of 1 into (1,2-dimethoxyethyl)benzene (2) occurs when the electrolysis is carried out with a platinum anode and with potassium fluoride or tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate as the supporting electrolyte.Cleavage of the C-C ? bond in 2 to give benzaldehyde dimethylacetal (3) is the most efficient at a graphite anode in the presence of sodium tosylate. - Key words: styrene, anodic oxidation, electrochemical cleavage of carbon-carbon ? and ? bonds; (1,2-dimethoxyethyl)benzene; benzaldehyde dimethylacetal; (1,1,2-trimethoxyethyl)- and (1,2,2-trimethoxyethyl)benzenes.