Diphenyldichloromethane is an

organic compound In chemistry, organic compounds are generally any chemical compounds that contain carbon-hydrogen or carbon-carbon bonds. Due to carbon's ability to catenate (form chains with other carbon atoms), millions of organic compounds are known. The ...

with the formula (C₆H₅)₂CCl₂. It is a colorless solid that is used as a precursor to other organic compounds.

Synthesis

It is prepared from

carbon tetrachloride Carbon tetrachloride, also known by many other names (such as tetrachloromethane, also IUPAC nomenclature of inorganic chemistry, recognised by the IUPAC, carbon tet in the cleaning industry, Halon-104 in firefighting, and Refrigerant-10 in HVAC ...

and anhydrous aluminium chloride as catalyst in a double Friedel-Crafts alkylation of

benzene Benzene is an organic chemical compound with the molecular formula C6H6. The benzene molecule is composed of six carbon atoms joined in a planar ring with one hydrogen atom attached to each. Because it contains only carbon and hydrogen atoms, ...

. Alternatively, benzophenone is treated with

phosphorus pentachloride Phosphorus pentachloride is the chemical compound with the formula PCl5. It is one of the most important phosphorus chlorides, others being PCl3 and POCl3. PCl5 finds use as a chlorinating reagent. It is a colourless, water-sensitive and moist ...

: :(C₆H₅)₂CO + PCl₅ → (C₆H₅)₂CCl₂ + POCl₃

Reactions

It undergoes

hydrolysis Hydrolysis (; ) is any chemical reaction in which a molecule of water breaks one or more chemical bonds. The term is used broadly for substitution reaction, substitution, elimination reaction, elimination, and solvation reactions in which water ...

to benzophenone. :(C₆H₅)₂CCl₂ + H₂O → (C₆H₅)₂CO + 2 HCl It is used in the synthesis of

tetraphenylethylene Tetraphenylethene (TPE) is an organic chemical compound with the formula Ph2C=CPh2, where Ph = phenyl (C6H5). It has been described as a yellow solid, but single crystals are colorless. The molecule is crowded such that all four phenyl groups ar ...

, diphenylmethane imine hydrochloride and

benzoic anhydride Benzoic anhydride is the organic compound with the formula (C6H5CO)2O. It is acid anhydride of benzoic acid and the simplest symmetrical aromatic acid anhydride. It is a white solid. Preparation and reactions It is usually prepared by the dehydra ...

References

Phenyl compounds Organochlorides {{organohalide-stub