Studies on the chlorination of the side chains of alkylaromatic compounds

Photochemical chlorinations of alkylaromatic compounds, such as toluene, the xylenes, mesitylene etc., give the corresponding side‐chain polychloro‐derivatives, though some nuclear chlorination, and also the formation of viscous condensation products, may occur concomitantly. Replacement by chlorine of the side‐chain hydrogen of alkylperchlorobenzenes does not, in general, appear to proceed to completion. Attempts to obtain perchloro‐compounds by further chlorination in ultraviolet light cause fission of dichloromethyl groups and the formation of hexachlorobenzene.