The reduction of cis, cis-1, 2, 3, 4-tetraphenylbutadiene with lithium in tetrahydrofuran yields 1, 2, 3, 4-tetralithio-1, 2, 3, 4-tetraphenylbutane, which upon hydrolysis with DzO gives dl- and meso-1, 2, 3, 4-tetradeuterio-1, 2, 3, 4-tetra-phenylbutane in yields up to 86%. The progress of the reduction was followed through the radical anion and dianion stages to the tetraanion by EPR and uv-visible spectroscopy. No trianion radical intermediate was ...
