Novel enhancement of the reducing ability of ytterbium diiodide by irradiation with near-UV light

Abstract Irradiation with near-UV light, dramatically enhances the reducing ability of ytterbium diiodide (YbI 2 ). Organic bromides, iodides, tosylates, and tellurides are reduced efficiently by a YbI 2 -hv system, while these can not be reduced with YbI 2 in the dark.