ELECTROCHEMICAL OXIDATION OF TETRAMETHYL ESTERS OF ALPHA, ALPHA, OMEGA, OMEGA-ALCANETETRACARBOXYLIC ACIDS

Cyclization of esters of butane-1,1,4,4-and pentane-1,1,5,5-tetracarbo xylic acids during electrolysis in methanol in the presence of NaI pro duces, with a yield of 95%, the esters of cyclobutane-1,1,2,2-and cycl opentane-1,1,2,2-tetracarboxylic acids. Under similar conditions, este rs of the highest alpha, alpha, omega, omega-alkanetetracarboxylic aci ds undergo iodation and hydroxymethylation due to electrical oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde. During electrotysis in methanol in the p resence of NaOAc, the esters of alpha,alpha,omega,omega-alkanetetracar boxylic acids undergo effective hydroxymethylation, followed by cycliz ation into substituted five- and six-member lactones, or tetrahydrofur ans when structurally possible.