Reductive dimerization of carbonyl compounds using reduced and electroreduced tungsten species

Abstract

Carbonyl compounds are easily transformed into olefins by chemically or electrochemically reduced tungsten species; the best results are obtained by means of a controlled potential electroreduction of Wcl₆ at a platinum electrode: benzaldehyde gives stilbene quantitatively when anhydrous tetrahydrofuran is used as the solvent and aluminium as the anode; in CH₂Cl₂, styrene can also be produced with lower yields.