A number of disubstituted stilbenes bearing either two strong electron-withdrawing groups or one electron-withdrawing and one electron-donating group were synthesized and anodically oxidized in a divided cell in methanol at a carbon anode. A variety of types of products were obtained, most of which have never been observed upon oxidation of alkenes not bearing electron-withdrawing groups. A mechanistic scheme involving 2-methoxy-1,2-diarylethyl cations as key intermediates can account for all of the observed products. The nature of the products from each alkene is strongly correlated with the sum of the Hammett sigma(+) values of the ring substituents. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.