Electrocatalytic oxidation of beta-dicarbonyl compounds using ceric methanesulphonate as mediator

Abstract

β-dicarbonyl compounds were oxidized electrocatalytically, with fragmentation and loss of "CH 2 ", using ceric methanesulphonate as a mediator. 2,4-pentanedione yields acetic acid (90%), methyl acetoacetate yields acetic acid (84%) plus methanol and dimethyl malonate yields methanol (64%). For 1,3-diphenyl-1,3-propanedione and 1,3-cyclohexanedione, benzoic acid (61% yield) and glutaric acid (75% yield) were obtained, respectively. Methyl cyanoacetate and malononitrile were inert.