The First Complete Dechlorination of 1,1,1-Trichloro-2,2-Bis(4-Chlorophenyl) Ethane (P,P'-DDT) Using Metal-Promoted Alkoxyborohydride in a Protic Solvent

Abstract

The reaction in situ of sodium borohydride with 2-methoxyethanol in 2-propanol in the presence of catalytic amount of NiCl₂6H₂O generates a powerful dechlorinating system which dechlorinates 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis (4-chlorophenyl)-ethane (DDT) to 1,1-diphenylmethoxymethane(80%) and l-(p-chlorophenyl)-l-phenylethane(10%) in 6 hours at 82--84 °C.