Anodic oxidation of appropriately substituted 2-methoxyphenols or α-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-2- methylpropionic acids in the presence of methanol furnishes stable orthoquinone monoketals, and thus constitutes a valuable alternative to the use of chemical oxidants that are often based on toxic metallic species. The propionic acid derivatives are initially converted into O-spirolactonic quinone bisketals that are then selectively hydrolyzed into ...
