Polarographic Studies in Acetonitrile and Dimethylformamide

Stilbene, anthracene, and 9‐anisylidenefluorene are reduced stepwise polarographically in anhydrous acetonitrile and in dimethylformamide. Triphenylethylene, tetraphenylethylene, styrene, and 1,1‐diphenylethylene give only one reduction wave. Large‐scale electrolytic reductions in these solvents indicate that carbanion intermediates exist for a short period of time. 1,2,3,4‐Tetraphenylbutane and meso‐diphenyl succinic acid have been prepared electrolytically from stilbene in dimethylformamide.