Electrooxidative Conversion of Dibenzoylbenzene Dihydrazones into the Coreesponding Bis-Diazo Compounds and Bis-Dimethyl Acetals

Several dibenzoylbenzene dihydrazones were electrochemically oxidized into the corresponding bis-dimethyl acetals in a methanolic solution containing sodium methoxide and catalytic amount of KI. During electrolysis, the anolyte exhibited a characteristic deep purple, which strongly suggested that formation of a diazo compound as an intermediate. Interestingly, some of the diazo compounds could be isolated directly from the anolyte.