This paper by Henne on the reactivity of various haloalkanes with alkali metals should clear up any confusion about this matter, dichlorodifluoromethane doesn't react with alkali metals, and thus couldn't be used in a Birch reduction of pseudoephedrine, unless one wishes to recover the undreduced pseudoephedrine, the alkali metal and the ozone depleting dichlorodifluoromethane as an excercise in futility ;D
JACS 60 2275-6 (1938)
(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/hive/hiveboard/picproxie_imgs/djvu.gif)