Organocatalyzed Birch Reduction Driven by Visible Light
The Birch reduction is a powerful synthetic methodology that uses solvated electrons to convert inert arenes to 1,4-cyclohexadienes—valuable intermediates for building molecular complexity. Birch reductions traditionally employ alkali metals dissolved in ammonia to produce a solvated electrons for the reduction of unactivated arenes such as benzene (Ered < -3.42 V vs. SCE). Photoredox catalysts have…