Electrooxidative conversion of dibenzoylbenzene dihydrazones into the corresponding 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 a catalytic amount of KI. During electrolysis, the anolyte exhibited a characteristic deep purple colour, which strongly suggests the formation of a diazo compound as an intermediate. Such intermediates have been isolated in the electrooxidation of two dihydrazones.