Reductive radical formation of hetero aromatic N-oxides.

Abstract

Pyridine 1-oxide gave the 4, 4'-dipyridyl anion radical in 1, 2-dimethoxyethane by reduction with the potassium metal in vacuo. The 3, 5-lutidine, pyrazine and 3-nitropyridine anion radicals were also obtained from the parent N-oxides by the reduction, accompanied with the removal of oxygen atoms, while the 4-nitro- and 4-nitroso-pyridine 1-oxide anion radicals were obtained from the parent compounds without the deoxygenation.