Abstract The addition of chloroform to alkenes to give 1: 1 adducts has been studied at 60- 160 C. In the addition to styrene taken as a model reaction, copper complexes formed from metallic copper or cuprous oxide and 1, 10-phenanthroline showed highest catalytic activity and selectivity even under mild conditions and gave 1, 1, 3-trichloro-3-phenylpropane in up to 95% yields. Aliphatic alkenes and vinyl monomers were less reactive than styrene. The ...
