HYDRODIMERIZATION OF DIMETHYL MALEATE IN METHANOL USING AN UNDIVIDED CELL

The electrohydrodimerization of dimethyl maleate to tetramethyl butanetetracarboxylate occurs with high selectivity at high payload in an undivided cell having graphite electrodes using methanol as the solvent and sodium acetate as the supporting electrolyte. We describe here the experiments performed to define likely reaction pathways and conditions for later use in a pilot-scale operation of this process.