Alkali metal mediated conversion of arene oxides and arene imines into aromatic hydrocarbons

K-Region oxides and imines of phenanthrene, chrysene benz[a]anthracene, and dibenz[a,h]anthracene react in tetrahydrofuran with lithium and sodium to give the parent hydrocarbons. In the presence of excessive metal, the latter are converted into dianions from which the parent compounds can be regenerated upon quenching with oxygen. Metalate derivatives of the oxides and imines are proposed to be the corresponding reaction intermediates in the deoxygenation and deamination processes.