Regularities of anodic acetoxylation of 1,4-dimethoxybenzene in protic and aprotic media

Electrochemical acetoxylation of 1,4-dimethoxybenzene during amperostatic electrolysis in an undivided cell at Pt electrodes in MeCN or MeOH solutions containing Et₄NOAc gives 2,5-dimethoxyphenyl acetate if AcOH or CH₂Cl₂ co-solvent has been added in a concentration of ≥50%. The reaction mechanism includes a nucleophilic attack of AcO⁻ ion on the ipso-position of 1,4-dimethoxybenzene radical cation. The process efficiency depends on factors that determine the stability and reactivity of the intermediate 1,4-dimethoxy-1-acetoxyarenonium cation. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1534–1538, July, 2005.