Abstract
The polarographic behavior of trans-stilbene, triphenylethylene, tetraphenylethylene, benzyl chloride and carbon tetrachloride has been studied in tetramethylurea containing tetrabutylammonium bromide. The results obtained indicate that this solvent offers no advantage over dimethylformamide. The high resistance of the solvent made the large scale electrolysis of benzyl chloride difficult to carry out. Products obtained were toluene, n-butane, butenes and tri-n-butylamine. The similarity in structure of tetramethylurea to dimethylformamide suggested an evaluation of this liquid as a solvent for the polarographic studies of organic compounds. Studies in the latter have furnished evidence for the existence of stable anion-free radicals in the reduction of aromatic hydrocarbons, quinones, aromatic ketones and of dihalocarbenes in the reduction of carbon tetrachloride and bromide.
