Electrochemical oxidation of malonic esters in the presence of catalyst carriers ? salts of hydriodic acid

Abstract

1. The throughgoing electrochemical oxidation of esters of malonic acid in the presence of catalyst carriers — salts of hydriodic acid — in methanol and ethanol leads to esters of ethylenetetracarboxylic acid and the products of the addition to it of alcohols and dialkyl malonates, namely 1-alkoxyethane-1,1,2,2-tetracarboxylic and propane-1,1,2,2,3,3-hexacarboxylic esters. 2. The results of the reaction depends to a significant degree on the temperature and the nature of the cation in the catalyst carrier. Under optimal conditions, each of the enumerated esters can be obtained with the yield of 50–80%.