The structures of some products from the electrolysis of cyclohexane-1,3-dione and related compounds

Abstract

Mass spectral and n.m.r. data have shown that the products obtained by electrolysis in aqueous methanolic sodium hydroxide solution of 5-methyl- and 5-phenyl-cyclohexane-1,3-dione and dimedone (5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione) are the methane derivatives (III) and not, as previously supposed, the simple dehydrogeno-dimers (II). Similarly, the compound formed by electrolysis of cyclohexane-1,3-dione in aqueous sodium hydroxide has been shown to be the dihydrofuran derivative (VIIa). A new product obtained by electrolysis of dimedone in aqueous pyridine is a dehydrogeno-trimer.