Reactions of aromatic ethers with alkali metals in ethereal solvents
Abstract
The potassium reduction of a number of aromatic ethers in ethereal solvents has been investigated, principally by e.s.r. methods. Detailed deuteriation studies on anisole have been made to trace the route by which biphenyl is commonly formed in these reductions, and have required that mechanisms based on protonation of the parent radical anion be discarded in favour of one involving phenyl radical attack.