Abstract
Extremely high selectivity was provided by calcium in liquid ammonia in the cleavage of the benzylic carbon-oxygen bond in benzyl ethers containing various other functionalities. Results of controlled experiments indicate that the selectivities offered by the Ca → Ca + + e - and the Ca + → Ca 2+ + e - processes are 4.6 and 47 times greater, respectively, than that afforded by the Li → Li + + e - process. © 1986 American Chemical Society.