The mechanism of the Birch reduction has been the subject of much discussion. The original mechanism of the Birch reduction invoked protonation of a radical anion that was meta to the ring methoxy and alkyl groups. It further propose that the last step, protonation of a cyclohexadienyl anion, occurred ortho with respect to these substituents. Birch’s original mechanism was based on qualitative reasoning, namely that the radical anion’s electron density, resulting from the addition of an electron, would be highest meta to an electron donor (such as methoxy or methyl) due to avoiding the usual ortho-para high density in the neutral species.