Question

How is chlorobenzene converted into diphenyl/biphenyl?

How would you obtain pure diphenyl from chlorobenzene?

How would you convert chlorobenzene to diphenyl?

Answer 1

When chlorobenzene is heated with copper, two molecules of chlorobenzene undergo a coupling reaction to form diphenyl (biphenyl), with the elimination of hydrochloric acid (HCl).

\[2\mathrm{C_6H_5Cl} + 2\mathrm{Na} \xrightarrow{\text{Dry ether}} \mathrm{C_6H_5-C_6H_5} + 2\mathrm{NaCl}\]

Answer 2

When chlorobenzene is heated with copper, two molecules of chlorobenzene undergo a coupling reaction to form diphenyl (biphenyl), with the elimination of hydrochloric acid (HCl).