Chromium-catalyzed pinacol coupling of benzaldehyde in water

The pinacol coupling of benzaldehyde (0.25 M or 1.25 M) in water was catalyzed by 5–25 mol % CrCl2 in the presence of Zn-dust or Al-dust at 20 °C or 60 °C. In all cases at most 50% of the pinacol coupling product, 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethanediol, was obtained with the major product, benzyl alcohol, being formed by a competitive 2e− reduction of the carbonyl. The dl- to meso-diastereoselectivity of the pinacol products ranged from 0.6:1 to nearly 1:1.