The reaction of substituted dicyanoalkenes with aqueous titanium (III) chloride was examined. The dicyanoalkenes, which showed irreversible reduction characteristics on cyclic voltammograms,(typically, 2-cyano-3-phenylpropenenitrile), afforded cyclized and/or uncyclized hydrodimers, while those characterized by reversible reduction behavior,(typically, 2-cyano-3, 3-diphenylpropenenitrile), yielded the corresponding ...
