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| | Birch Reduction |
 | | When viewed in valence bond terms, electron-electron repulsions in the radical anion will preferentially have the nonbonding electrons separated as much as possible, in a 1,4-relationship. |
 | | The numbers, which stand for the number of bonds, can be averaged and compared with the 1,3- and the 1,4-diene. |
 | | The difference between the dienyl carbanion and 1,3-diene in absolute numbers is 2, and between the dienyl carbanion and 1,4-diene is 4/3. |
| www.organic-chemistry.org /namedreactions/birch-reduction.shtm (221 words) |
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