I managed. The answer is this format:
electrum paytomany '[["bc1qnp7d483d79j6pcx6rfc9yw46xrevplcxtuurhq",0.0001], ["bc1qt6enaefhrhue9q4hyszx4kn9zvqvucktruvh2q",0.0001]]'
The single quotes won't allow for variable substitution. But it is easier than escaping double quotes.
--Knight Hider