1,8-bis(diphenylmethylium)naphthalenediyl dication as an organic oxidant: synthesis of benzidines via self-coupling of N,N-dialkylanilines.

1,8-Bis(diphenylmethylium)naphthalenediyl dications promoted oxidative coupling of various N,N-dialkylanilines to afford the corresponding para-coupled bisanilines, benzidines, in good to excellent yield. The dications were readily prepared from a cyclic ether precursor, derived from 1,8-dibromonaphthalene, via deoxygenation with a silylating reagent in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol under anhydrous conditions. [reaction: see text]