Studies on the successive anodic methoxylation of some ring-substituted phenylacetic acids

Abstract

The anodic methoxylation of some ring-substituted phenylacetic acids has been examined. The transformations occurring during the electrolysis of 4-methoxyphenylacetic acid, in methanol, were followed, step by step, by gas chromatography. The methyl ether initially formed was converted into the dimethyl acetal and this into the methyl orthoester, as confirmed by electrolysis of the intermediate products.