Photoreduction of aromatic hydrocarbons by lithium aluminium hydride and sodium borohydride

Abstract

Aromatic hydrocarbons are photoreduced in aprotic solvents by lithium aluminium hydride and sodium borohydride to their corresponding aromatic radical anion by two distinct mechanisms: in one the hydrocarbon interacts with a photodecomposition product of the hydride, in the other the photoexcited hydrocarbon interacts with the hydride; a dark reaction between pyrene and lithium aluminium hydride is also observed.