Conversion of benzal chloride to stilbene by electrogenerated cobalt(I) (salen) a doubly electrocatalytic process

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(93)89018-L

Benzal chloride is converted to a mixture consisting primarily of cis- and trans-stilbene by the action of electrochemically-generated cobalt(I)(salen). The process involves a sequence involving electrocatalytic conversion of benzal chloride to a mixture of meso- and dl -1,2-dichloro-1,2-diphenylethane, followed by electrocatalyzed conversion of the latter to the stilbenes. Each of the diastereomeric dichlorides affords the same mixture of stilbenes under the reaction conditions.