N-Dimethoxyphenylation of highly basic pyrazoles during undivided electrolysis

The reactions of pyrazole, 3,5-dimethylpyrazole, and its 4-nitro derivatives with 1,4-dimethoxybenzene during undivided amperostatic electrolysis in MeCN (CH₂Cl₂) were studied. The basicity of the medium, which depends on the solvent nature, the nature and concentration of pyrazole and the acid-base properties of additives, and the amount of electricity passed determine the yield and relative content of the target products, viz., 1,4-dimethoxy-2-(pyrazol-1-yl)benzenes (1) and 1,4-dimethoxy-1,4-di(pyrazol-1-yl)cyclohexa-2,5-dienes (2). The process occurs mainly through the interaction of the nonionized solvato complex of pyrazole with the 1,4-dimethoxybenzene radical cation and affords radical intermediates structurally similar to compounds 1 and 2. The key stage of the process determining the 1 : 2 ratio is the rearrangement of the intermediately produced 1,4-dimethoxy-1-(pyrazol-1-yl)arenonium cation to the 1-(pyrazol-1-yl)-2,5-dimethoxyarenonium cation.