white to light yellow crystal powder. soluble in chloroform, ether, carbon disulfide and amyl acetate, soluble in alcohol, almost insoluble in water. It reacts with chromium trioxide or permanganic acid to generate benzoic acid.
1,2-Diphenylethane is used as solvent for nitro fibre and in synthesis of other organic chemical products.
ChEBI: 1,2-dihydrostilbene is a diphenylethane that is the 1,2-dihydro derivative of stilbene.
1,2-Diphenylethane is synthesized by the action of benzyl chloride with sodium metal. Or from the reaction of benzyl chloride in the presence of copper, or from the hydrogenation of benzoin in the presence of nickel.
Crystallise bibenzyl from hexane, MeOH, or 95% EtOH. It has also been sublimed under vacuum, and further purified by percolation through columns of silica gel and activated alumina. [Beilstein 5 IV 1868.]
