Electrochemical Reduction of the Benzene Ring

Abstract

Reduction of benzene and tetrahydronaphthalene(tetralin) was achieved by electrolysisin ethylenediaminesaturatedwith lithium chloride. This re- ductioncouldalsobecarriedoutwith tetrabutylammoniumiodideasthesup- porting electrolyte.In the absenceof a substrate,electrolysisof a solution of lithium chloride in ethylenediamineproduced the blue color of the solvated metal.