ANODIC OXIDATION OF 4-HYDROXYCINNAMIC ACIDS

Anodic oxidation of 4-hydroxycinnamic acids was carried out at a controlled potential vs. SCE (+900 or 840 mV), using an undivided cell, to afford the corresponding asatone or isoasatone-type compound as well as pinoresinol-type dilactones. In these oxidation reactions, relative ratio of the two dimerization products remarkably depends on the starting acids concentration.