
%0 Journal Article
%A Fawell, P 
%A Avraamides, J 
%A Hefter, G 
%T Reduction of Vicinal Dihalides. I. The Electrochemical Reduction of <I>meso</I> and (&#177;)-1,2-Dibromo-1,2-diphenylethane
%J Australian Journal of Chemistry
%D 1990/08/01
%V 43
%N 8
%P 1421-1430
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9901421
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/CH9901421 
%X The mechanism of the electrochemical dehalogenation of organic vicinal dihalides has been examined in acetonitrile by using meso- and (±)-1,2-dibromo-1,2-diphenylethane. Reduction potentials and product distributions obtained from the isomeric dibromides could not be accommodated within a mechanism involving a concerted addition of two electrons. However, these results can be explained by a stepwise addition of electrons, allowing the possibility of bond rotation at an intermediate stage. The product distributions obtained from the reduction of the (±)- dibromide were found to be potential-dependent, a result not previously observed for this compound, but consistent with a stepwise mechanism. 
