Anodic functionalization of olefins in alcohols in the presence of halide salts

Electrolysis of conjugated, unbranched arylolefins in the presence of alkali metal halides in alcohols affords 1-aryl-2-bromoketals in 60–90% yields. Under these conditions, 2-methyl-1-phenylprop-1-ene is converted into 1-bromo-2-methyl-1-phenylprop-1-ene in 80% yield, and arylolefins with no benzylidene hydrogens give 1-aryl-1-alkoxy-2-bromoalkanes.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 125–131, January, 1990.