Abstract
The polarographic reduction of benzophnone at the dropping mercury electrode has been investigated in 20% to 100% pyridine solution with particular attention to the nature of the electrolytic process in dry pyridine. In the latter solvent, benzophenone is reduced in an apparently one-electron reversible process to an anion free radical, which would readily dimerize to a product, which would in turn hydrolyze in the presence of water to form benzpinacol. The reduction mechanism is thus generally similar to that of benzophenone in alkaline aqueous solution, where the relative lack of hydrogen ion results in an anionic free radical being the primary product.
