ARYL RADICALS FROM ORGANOMETALLIC SOURCES. PREFERENTIAL ATTACK ON THE SIDE CHAIN OF TOLUENES BY THE o-TOLYL RADICALS.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(86)80528-9

The o-tolyl radicals, formed by the reaction of o-chlorotoluene with (dppe = Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2) or by the decomposition of o-toluoyl peroxide, prefrentially attack the methyl group of toluenes giving rise to bibenzyls.In contrast the m- and p-tolyl radicals preferentially attack the aromatic nucleus.