The anodic alkoxylation of N-phenylsulfonylpyrrole (1) yielded product
s of nucleophilic addition on a cation radical or cation resulting fro
m the primary electrochemical step. 2,5-Dimethoxy-1-phenylsulfonyl-3-p
yrroline (3) was isolated in 46% yield and 2,5-diethoxy-1-phenylsulfon
yl-3-pyrroline (5) in 38% yield. The dimethoxypyrroline derivative 3 s
plits off methanol when heated, giving 2-methoxy-1-phenylsulfonylpyrro
le (7).