ELECTROSYNTHESIS OF BETA-METHYLPENTADECANEDIOIC ACID DIMETHYL ESTER

beta-Methylpentadecanedioic acid dimethyl ester (I) was synthesized el ectrochemically by Kolbe reaction using beta-methylglutaric acid monom ethyl ester (II) and alpha,omega-dodecanedioic acid monomethyl ester ( III) as starting materials in MeOH solution. Electrolysis was carried out for about 4-5 h, when solution pH greater than or equal to 7, foll owed by extraction with petroleum ether and distillation to obtain a c olourless oily product (I). The minimum production cost occurred when the mole ratio of II to III was 1:1.38 and unreacted III could be reco vered. The product synthesized (I) completely met the requirement of a rtificially synthesized musk.