Direct electro-oxidation of p-propenyl anisole(p-PA) in acetonitrile aqueous solutions was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV)

controlled potential electrolysis and chronoamperometry. The effect of water content

scan rate

temperature

reactant concentration

electrolysis potential and electrode on activation of C═C bond were studied. The results showed that electro-oxidation of p-PA in acetonitrile aqueous solutions was an irreversible process

which was mainly diffusion-controlled with the diffusion coefficient (D) of 2.53×10-6 cm2·s-1. The major direct electro-oxidation product of p-PA was p-methoxybenzaldehyde (p-MBA). At 20% water content

the yield of p-MBA could be improved to 93% and almost complete conversion of reactant on graphite rod electrode at 25℃ in an undivided electrolytic cell.