Generation of strong, homochiral bases by electrochemical reduction of phenazine derivatives.

Electrochemical reduction of enantiomerically pure amino- and alkoxy-phenazine derivatives forms strongly basic radical anions which give asymmetric induction in the conversion of 3,4-epoxytetrahydrothiophene-1,1-dioxide into the allylic ester with facile regeneration of the phenazine.