1,8-Bis(diphenylmethylium)naphthalenediyl Dication as an Organic Oxidant: Synthesis of Benzidines via Self-Coupling of <i>N,N</i>-Dialkylanilines

1,8-Bis(diphenylmethylium)naphthalenediyl dications promoted oxidative coupling of various N,N-dialkylanilines to afford the corresponding para-coupled bisanilines, benzidines, in good to excellent yield. The dications were readily prepared from a cyclic ether precursor, derived from 1,8-dibromonaphthalene, via deoxygenation with a silylating reagent in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol under anhydrous conditions.