Convenient reduction of azobenzenes and azoxybenzenes to hydrazobenzenes by sodium dithionite using dioctylviologen as an electron transfer catalyst

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(96)01451-7

Various ezobenzenes and azoxybenzenes were reduced almost quantitatively to the corresponding hydrazobenzenes as sodium dithionite under mild conditions without the formation of aniline derivatives, using dioctyl viologen as an electron-transfer catalyst in acetonitrile-water.