A novel and efficient procedure for the preparation of 4,4′-bis(chloromethyl)biphenyl by chloromethylation of biphenyl catalyzed by PEG1000-DAIL under homogeneous catalysis in aqueous media

As described in this article, 4,4′-bis(chloromethyl)biphenyl was obtained in 85% excellent yield by chloromethylation of biphenyl catalyzed by the recyclable temperature-dependant phase-separation system that comprised the dicationic acidic ionic liquid PEG1000-DAIL and methylcyclohexane under homogeneous catalysis in aqueous media. Compared to other synthetic methods, the novel method not only enhanced the yield, but also made the operating units easy workup. The mechanism of chloromethylation reaction and the process of catalysis in the thermoregulated ionic liquid bi-phase system were proposed.