Anodic Cyanation of (beta)-Dicarbonyl Compounds

Several (beta)-dicarbonyl compounds were electrochemically oxidized in a methanolic solution in the presence of sodium cyanide and sodium methoxide to yield the corresponding (alpha)-cyano-(beta)-dicarbonyl compounds in moderate to good yields. Presumably, a two-electron transfer transforms the anion derived from the (beta)-dicarbonyl compounds into a cation, which then reacts with a cyanide ion to afford the cyanation products.