ABSTRACT This study presents a process for generating potent ground‐state electron donors using chemically stored light energy. Our strategy leverages light energy through high‐energy vicinal diols produced by the photodimerization of diaryl ketones. Under basic conditions, these diols can produce dianions with potentials near −2.7 V, which further act as strong organic reductants. These reductants demonstrate a high capacity for effectively reducing recalcitrant substrates at room temperature, including electron‐rich aryl bromides, alkyl iodides, and sulfonamide compounds. Mechanistic investigations, supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, confirm both the formation of these dianions and their exceptional electron‐donating properties.
Taillefer et al. (2026) studied this question.