title: Reaction of benzopinacol with non-ionic bases: reversing the pinacol coupling.
abstract: The reaction of benzopinacol with the non-ionic bases butyllithium and phosphazene P4 leads to the formation of the corresponding ketyl radical anions, which have been characterized by EPR/ENDOR spectroscopy. This conversion has a high efficiency. Such a reversed pinacol reaction can be used for a controlled release of ketyl radicals. Moreover, the nature of the base has a marked effect on the association of the ketyl radical anion and the counterions. This illustrates the importance of ion pairing for reductive coupling.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Graz University of Technology , Stremayrgasse 9, 8010 Graz, Austria , and BASF Schweiz AG , 4002 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zalibera
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nesvadba
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gescheidt