Electrochemical oxidation of alkyl-substituted allenes in methanol

Mono-, di- and tri-alkyl-substituted allenes were potentiostatically oxidized in methanol at graphite and Pt anodes. At the former electrode, α-methoxylated ketones (due to 4F/mole electricity consumption) and esters (6F/mole) were the major products. At a Pt anode, intermediate products such as vinyl-ether derivatives (2F/mole) were characterised too. Unlike the anodic oxidation of alkenes and alkynes previously reproted in the literature, dimerisation is not a typical process in the allenes' oxidation, since of all the products obtained only a sole dimer has been observed. The mechanism for the formation of most products is discussed.