ATTEMPTED PREPARATION OF 4-VINYLTRIARYLMETHYL RADICALS

The attempted preparation of 4-vinyltriarylmethyl radicals by interaction of 4-vinyltriarylmethylchlorides with metals yielded unstable radical intermediates immediately undergoing further reaction to give polymers of a quinodimethane structuretype. 1,4-α,α-Diphenylquinodimethane, obtained from 4-methyltriphenylmethyl chloride and pyridine in solution, was used as a model compound. It cannot be isolated and readily polymerizes to give poly-1,4-α,α-diphenylxylylene identified by IR and NMR spectra. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.