Although the reaction of benzene with aluminum chloride has been quite thoroughly examined by prior investigators, the present report is the first one on formation of poly‐p‐phenylene in this system. Optimum conditions, which gave low yields, involved 7 days at 49–51deg;C. The presence of oxygen (oxidant) and presumably water (cocatalyst) was necessary in order for polymerization to occur. Physical and chemical properties, e.g., behavior toward Br2 and H2O2–CH3CO2H, indicate that the polymer structure is slightly different from that of the material from C6H6–AlCl3–CuCl2. The polymer from C6H6–AlCl3 may possess a lower molecular weight and exhibits a greater degree of structural irregularity in the form of dihydrobenzene, p‐quinoid, or polynuclear regions. In the chemical studies, various compounds were used as models (tetrahydroquaterphenyl, triphenylene, and lower p‐polyphenyls).

No abstract

Abstract-The configuration of twenty-four different a,/%-diarylx,;hdialkylpropionitriles has been determined using nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. The erythro form showed greater deshielding of the methine hydrogen and alkyl groups in its spectra than the corresponding threo isomer. The former, however, showed less deshielding of the aryl groups than the threo isomer. Infrared spectra were not suitable for assignments of configuration.

The electrochemical reduction of ethyl α‐butylacetoacetate at a lead cathode in aqueous sulfuric acid formed n‐octane, 2‐heptanone, 2‐octanol, 3‐octanol, 2‐octanone, 3‐octanone, 2,3‐octanedione, ethyl caproate, and erythro‐ andthreo‐ethyl α‐n‐butyl‐β‐hydroxybutyrate. These products indicate that the Tafel Rearrangement proceeds through a cyclopropane intermediate. Studies of the reduction of 2‐methyl‐2‐carbethoxycyclohexanone, 2,5‐dicarbethoxy‐cyclohexane‐1,4‐dione, and 2,5‐dibenzyl‐2,5‐dicarbethoxycyclohexane‐1,4‐di‐one found that this method was not suitable for the preparation of cycloheptane and cyclooctane derivatives.

No abstract