Photoirradiation of aromatic hydrocarbons such as phenanthrene, anthracene, or pyrene in the presence of an amine and carbon dioxide in dipolar aprotic solvents resulted in reductive carboxylation of the hydrocarbon. The reaction was considered to proceed via the anion radical of the hydrocarbon that reacts with C02 and then abstracts hydrogen, possibly from the solvent, to yield the corresponding dihydro carboxylic acid of the hydrocarbon. ...
