Photo-induced one-electron reduction of 10-methylacridinium ion with group 14 dimetallic compounds using visible irradiation

Efficient one-electron reduction of the 10-methylacridinium ion, with group 14 dimetallic compounds (Me₃MM′Me₃; M,M′ = Sn, Ge, Si), is initiated by electron transfer to the singlet excited state of the 10-methylacridinium ion in acetonitrile with irradiation by visible light to yield 10,10′-dimethyl-9,9′-biacridine selectively.