A novel synthesis of aromatic α-diketones from electron transfer reactions of aromatic acids with either lithium 4,4′-di-t-butylbiphenyl radical anion or lithium metal

Deoxidation/reduction of aromatic esters

Deoxidation/reduction of aromatic esters, α-diketones, acyloins, and epoxides to the corresponding bibenzyl products with lithium 4,4′-di-t-butylbiphenyl radical anion

✍ Rafik Karaman; James L. Fry 📂 Article 📅 1989 🏛 Elsevier Science 🌐 French ⚖ 208 KB

Sonication of aromatic esters, benzil, benwin, cis-and trans-stilbene, and tramstilbene oxide with excess lithium in the presence of catalytic amounts of 4,4'-di-t-butylbiphenyl (DBB) in dry THF afforded bibenzyl derivatives in high yields. The reactions of esters with alkali metals (Na and K) have