A new and highly effective organometallic approach to 1,2-dehalogenations and related reactions

1,2-Diaryl-1,2-disodioethanes: Versatile, Highly Reactive, and Tunable Synthetic Equivalents of Sodium Metal

1,2-Diaryl-1,2-disodioethanes are easily prepared, versatile, and stable diorganometals finding application in 1,2-reductive eliminations as well as in the degradation of several persistent organic pollutants as homogeneous synthetic equivalents of a highly reactive form of Na metal. Understanding their reactivity in terms of their different electron-donor power, which is strongly affected by the nature of substituents located either on the aromatic ring(s) or on the carbanionic centers, allowed rationalization of their employment not only as chemoselective single electron transfer reducing reagents, but also as bases in the generation of enediolates of arylacetic acids bearing easily reducible carbon–halogen bonds.

Reducing properties of 1,2-dipyridyl-1,2-disodioethanes: chemical validation of theoretical and electrochemical predictions

Theoretical calculations and electrochemical analysis were used to set up a relative scale for the reducing strength of the dianions of 1,2-dipyridylethenes, validated by studying their reactivity towards halogenated benzoic and arylacetic acids.