Benzene → (2-Chlorophenyl)diphenylmethanol

Participants

Reaction Steps

Into a flask, benzene (380 ml) was charged, and aluminum chloride (88 g) was suspended therein. A solution of o-chlorobenzotrichloride (138 g, 0.6 mole) in benzene (145 ml) was dropwise added thereto over 2 hours while keeping the temperature at 60° C. After the addition was completed, the mixture was refluxed for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was poured into water (600 ml), and the flask was washed with benzene (240 ml) and water (120 ml). The combined mixture was refluxed for 4 hours. The organic layer was separated, washed with water (400 ml), treated with charcoal (6 g) and filtered. Evaporation of the benzene filtrate gave 172.6 g of o-chlorophenyldiphenylmethanol as a crystalline mass. Yield, 97.7%. M.P., 88.5°-91.5° C.

Provenance & Evidence