Photo-Birch reduction

Photo-Birch reduction. Dihydroxylenes are formed on irradiation of a mixture of xylene, 1,3-dicyanobenzene, and sodium borohydride (large excess) in CH3CN/H20 (9 l).1 The major products of reduction are isomeric with those, the more stable isomers, formed on Birch reduction. 

Photo-Birch reductions. Irradiation of aromatic hydrocarbons in aqueous acetonitrile in the presence of sodium borohydride and 1,2-, 1,3-, or 1,4-dicyanobenzene with a high-pressure mercury arc results in reduction to dihydro derivatives. Phenahthrene is reduced to 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene (71%), anthracene to 9,10-dihydroanthracene (70%), and naphthalene to 1,4-... 

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