High molecular weight tri-and tetra-n-alkylbenzenes have been synthesized by the cross- coupling of the appropriate chlorinated benzenes with long-chain n-alkylmagnesium bromides using (1, 2-bis (diphenyl-phosphino) ethane) nickel (II) chloride [NiC12 (dppe)] as catalyst. The reactions proceeded without any positional scrambling or alkyl group isomerization. A new method is described for the preferential substitution of one chlorine ...
