Excellent and Convenient Procedures for Reduction of Benzene and Its Derivatives

Reductions of benzene, toluene, ortho-xylene, cumene, anisole and benzoic acid to corresponding nonconjugated dienes were realized at room temperature by gas NH3 and Li. The reduced products were easily isolated because THF and dioxane were dissolved in the water. The yields and conversions of the reactions were 70-89% and 80-100%, respectively.