Electrochemical carboxylation of cinnamate esters in MeCN

Electrochemical carboxylation of cinnamate esters has been carried out by cathodic reduction of Cdouble bond; length as m-dashC bond in an undivided cell equipped with Mg sacrificial anode and using MeCN saturated with CO2 as solvent. The yields and the ratio of mono- and dicarboxylic acids are strongly affected by various factors: cathodic material, current, charge, and temperature. The highest yield (78.9%) was obtained starting from ethyl cinnamate. Cyclic voltammograms have been measured and reaction pathways have been proposed.