Toluene → 1-Chloro-2-[(2-methylphenyl)methyl]benzene

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

3.49 g (10.00 mmol) of an isomeric mixture comprising 45% of 2-(2-chlorobenzyl)-4-tert.-butyl-toluene and 55% of 2-(2-chlorobenzyl)-5-tert.-butyltoluene (total content of both isomers in the charge material: 78%), 9.2 g (100.00 mmol) of toluene, dried, and 0.8 g (5.00 mmol) of anhydrous, sublimed iron(III) chloride were placed in a flask, fitted with magnetic stirrer and reflux condenser. The mixture was stirred for 6 h at 50° C. The mixture (13.5 g) was then cooled to room temperature and analyzed by gas chromatography. 15.7% of 2-(2-chlorobenzyl)toluene (corresponding to the theoretical yield) could be detected as the only diphenylmethane derivative.

Provenance & Evidence