Anodic Cyanation of β-Dicarbonyl Compounds

Abstract Several β-dicarbonyl compounds were electrochemically oxidized in a methanolic solution in the presence of sodium cyanide and sodium methoxide to yield the corresponding α-cyano-β-dicarbonyl compounds in moderate to good yields. Presumably, a two-electron transfer transforms the anion derived from the β-dicarbonyl compounds into a cation, which then reacts with a cyanide ion to afford the cyanation products.