Metal-ammonia reduction-V. The stereochemistry of reductive alkylation

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)83029-5

Reductive alkylation of anthracene, 9, 10-dimethylanthracene, 1, 4-dimethylanthracene, benz(a)anthracene and dibenz(a,h)anthracene via treatment of the dilithio adducts in liquid ammonia with alkyl halides proceeds stereo selectively to furnish high yields of the corresponding cis-dialkyldihydro derviatives.