POSSIBILITY OF APPLYING THE ELECTROCHEMICAL VERSION OF THE HORNER REACTION TO THE SYNTHESIS OF UNSATURATED LACTONES

Direct electrochemical reduction of specially synthesized 2-[(diethoxy phosphorylacetoxy]benzaldehyde on a platinum electrode in an aprotic m edium is accompanied by ester bond cleavage, and not formation of coum arin via the phosphonate-anion followed by intramolecular Homer cycliz ation. This could be realized, as a matter of principle, in the presen ce of an ionol anion (2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenoxide), electroche mically generated in situ.