Friedel-Crafts Reactions of Benzene with 1-Phenylpropanols. Effects of CuCl2, Cu2Cl2, and Decalin

Highly regioselective formation of 1,1-diphenylpropane was observed when copper(I) or (II) chlorides was added to the aluminium chloride-catalyzed reaction of benzene with 1-phenyl-1-propanol. In the reaction with 1-phenyl-2-propanol, the addition of copper salts increased the formation of 1,1-diphenylpropane. The addition of decalin diminished the alkylation reaction to give a reduction product.