The direct and mediated reductions of the hexachlorocyclohexane, lindane, in DMF are reported. 9,10-diphenylanthracene (DPA) is a particularly effective mediator. The reaction of DPA À with lindane is a very fast reaction and, indeed, with ratios of [lindane]/[DPA] < 5, the mediated reduction of lindane is mass transfer limited with respect to lindane. During the mediated reduction, light emission can be seen even in an undarkened laboratory; this is due to the formation of DPA*.