Radical cation generation in coal may make possible depolymerization at low temperature. This possibility was investigated using single molecules containing functional groups common in coals. Single- electron oxidations of 4,4{prime}-dimethoxybibenzyl (DMBB) by Fe(III) (1,10-phenanthroline){sub 3}(ClO{sub 4}){sub 3}, in refluxing CH{sub 3}CN, gave incomplete mass balances; an attempt was made to identify the additional products. Part of these products were deduced to be dimer, p-methoxybenzylated dimer of DMBB; mono, di, and tri-p- methoxybenzylated DMBB. Similar oxidations in CH{sub 2}Cl{sub 2} and sulfolane solvents gave similar results. Attempts to use other solvents were unsuccessful.