Electrochemical preparation of aromatic esters

Claim 1

METHOD FOR THE ELECTROCHEMICAL PREPARATION OF A MONOACYLOXY DERIVATIVE OF A SUBSTITUTED BENZENE COMPOUND WHICH COMPRISES ELECTROLYZING AN ANHYDROUS SOLUTION COMPRISING SAID COMPOUND, AN ALKANOIC ACID, AN ALKALI METAL SALT OF AN ALKANOIC ACID, AND AN ALKANOIC ACID ANHYDRIDE BY PASSING UP TO 1.3 FARADAYS OF ELECTRICITY PER MOLE OF SAID COMPOUND THROUGH SAID SOLUTION FROM AN ANODE OF LEAD DIOXIDE TO A CATHODE TO CONVERT SAID COMPOUND TO A MONOACYLOXY DERIVATIVE, SAID COMPOUND COMPRISING BENZENE HAVING A SUBSTITUENT SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF ALKYL, MONONUCLEAR ARYL, ALKOXY, MONONUCLEAR ARYLOXY, ACYLOXY, AND ACYLAMIDO GROUPS, SAID QUANTITY OF ELECTRICITY BEING USED UP TO ATTACK SAID COMPOUND AND CONVERT THE SAME TO SAID DERIVATIVE, SAID DERIVATIVE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY THE ONLY ACYLOXY DERIVATIVE THAT IS FORMED, THEN CEASING THE ELECTROLYSIS, AND REMOVING SAID DERIVATIVE FROM THE SOLUTION.