Cathodic reduction of the trityl cation in methylene dichloride

Abstract

The reduction of the trityl cation in methylene dichloride at a dropping mercury electrode or at a platinum electrode is a reversible one-electron process. This ion can be detected polarographically at less than 10^–5M. During largescale electrolysis of trityl perchlorate, trityl radicals, identified by their e.s.r. spectrum, are formed and these are stable for several weeks if the solution contains an excess of triphenylmethanol. The product isolated from the electrolysed solutions is 4-(diphenylmethyl)phenyltriphenylmethane. The Ag–AgClO₄ electrode is a useful reference electrode in methylene dichloride.