Two-electron reduction of 1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutadiene by sodium or potassium to but-2-ene-1,4-diyl salts of different structure
Abstract
The reduction of 1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutadiene in ether solution at sodium or potassium metal mirrors proceeds via CC double bond shifts and yields either a monomeric contact ion triple unit {tetraphenylbutadiene2–-[Na+(dimethoxyethane)2]2}1, or a polymeric contact ion aggregate, [tetraphenylbutadiene2–(K+ diethyl ether)2]∞.