Electrochemical preparation of acyloxy derivatives of condensed ring aromatic compounds

Claim 1

METHOD FOR THE ELECTROCHEMICAL PREPARATION OF A MONOACYLOXY DERIVATIVE OF A CONDENSED RING AROMATIC WHICH COMPRISES ELECTROLYZING AN ANHYDROUS SOLUTION OF SAID AROMATIC, AND ALKANOIC ACID, AN ALKALI METAL SALT OF AN ALKANOIC ACID, AND AN ALKANOIC ACID ANHYDRIDE BY PASSING UP TO 0.5 FARADAY OF ELECTRICITY PERMOLE OF AROMATIC THROUGH SAID SOLUTION FROM AN ANODE TO A CATHODE TO CONVERT UP TO ABOUT 25% BY WEIGHT OF THE AROMATIC TO A MONOACYLOXY DERIVATIVE, SAID DERIVATIVE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY THE ONLY CAYLOXY DERIVATIVE THAT IS FORMED AND COMPRISING UP TO ABOUT 25% BY WEIGHT OF THE TOTAL AROMATICCONTAINING COMPOUNDS PRESENT IN THE RESULTING SOLUTION WITH THE BALANCE OF SUCH COMPOUNDS COMPRISING THE AROMATIC ITSELF, THEN CEASING THE ELECTROLYSIS, REMOVING SAID DERIVATIVE FROM THE SOLUTION, CONTINUING THE ELECTROLYSIS TO CONVERT THE UNRECTED AROMATIC, AND REPEATING THE FOREGOING DERIVATIVE-REMOVAL STEP AND THE UNREACTED AROMATICCONVERSION STEP TO PRODUCE A YIEDL OF SAID DERIVATIVE OF AT LEAST ABOUT 80% BY WEIGHT BASED ON THE AROMATIC.