Raney Ni–Al alloy-mediated reduction of benzils in water

Raney Ni-Al alloy in a dilute aqueous alkaline solution has been shown to be a powerful reducing agent and is highly effective for the reduction of alkylbenzils and alkoxybenzils to afford the corresponding 1,2-diarylethers at 90 degrees C, in the absence of organic solvents. 4,4'-Dinitrobenzil was transformed selectively to 1,2-bis(4-aminophenyl)-ethane.