in methanol; acetonitrile byproducts: PhCH2CH2COOMe, PhCH2CH(OMe)2; Electrolysis; in MeOH/MeCN (1/9, v/v) + KOH soln. in MeOH, 30 mA/cm**2 with stirring; evapd. dissolved (Et2O), washed (H2O), GC-MS, NMR;