Anodic oxidation of cyclohexene: Dependence of the product distribution on the reaction variables .1.

The influence of the electrolysis parameters on the anodic oxidation of cyclohexene in methanol has been studied. Temperature, current density, cell geometry, electrode material and supporting electrolyte only have a minor effect on the selectivity. The basicity or acidity of the electrolyte and in particular the methanol concentration strongly influence the product distribution. With an equimolar mixture of cyclohexene and methanol in tetrahydrofuran 80% of 3-methoxycyclohexene are formed nearly exclusively. The anodic allylic substitution of cyclohexene is extended to other alcohols, water and acetic acid as nucleophiles. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.