Under open-flask conditions in the presence of commercially available FeCl3·6H2O, N,N-disubstituted anilines can be converted into diversely functionalized benzidines with yields of up to 99%. Oxidative coupling was extended to N-monosubstituted anilines, and the method was applied to the efficient preparation of 6,6′-biquinoline. Mechanistic investigations have also been performed to explain the observed
Synthesis of diversely functionalized symmetrical benzidines through electrochemical dehydrogenative cross-couplingreaction of two N,N-disubstituted anilines, is described. The reactions conducted under mild conditions with no oxidizing reagents and transition metal catalysts.