title: Isomerization of substituted biphenyls by superacid. A remarkable confluence of experiment and theory.
abstract: Acid-catalyzed isomerization of dimethylbiphenyls is determined by the relative stability of intermediate carbocations, rather than the neutral products, and may be predicted by a simple semiempirical method (AM1). A general kinetic model for such isomerizations is suggested in which the rearrangement of an intermediate cation is the rate-limiting step. Control of regiochemistry of dialkylbiphenyls provides a useful entry into high-purity monomers for high-polymer synthesis.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0100, USA.
authors.forename: S Christopher
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.forename: Alexei V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Iretskii
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gumienny
authors.forename: Laren M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Tolbert
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Schiraldi