The one-step synthesis of cyclic compounds is achieved in a few cases by electroreduction of unsaturated compounds in DMF, at a mercury pool cathode, in the presence of a more difficultly reducible dielectrophile. Unsaturated compounds include activated olefins, aromatic Schiff bases, ketones, and azo, nitroso, and nitro compounds. Four dielectrophiles are used; they are tri-or tetramethylene bromide, succinyl chloride, and 4-bromobutyryl ...