Hydroxymethylation of nitroalkylbenzenes with paraformaldehyde was accomplished by electrolysis in a (CH, O).-DMF-Et, NOTs-(Pt electrode) system. The reaction was found to be catalytic (0.25 faraday/mol) and dependent on the electroreduction of formaldehyde and/or nitroalkylbenzene. A variety of nitroalkylbenzenes were transformed to their corresponding mono-and/or bishydroxymethylated derivatives in good yield. The product yield and ...