“…4,4'-Dimethyldiphenylacetylene (9) and 4,4'-dimethoxydiphenylacetylene (13) were prepared by mercuric oxide oxidation of their respective benzil bishydrazones (1,5,13). 4,4'-Bis(dimethylamino)diphenylacetylene (7) and 4,4'-dichlorodiphenylacetylene (6,9) were prepared by reaction of their respective benzils (8, 14, 15) with triethyl phosphite (9). 4,4'-Dinitrodiphenylacetylene (12) was prepared by dehydrohalogenation of 4,4'-dinitrostilbene dibromide (12).…”