Basic studies on the inifer mechanism, 1. Interaction of 1,4-bis(1-chloro-1-methylethyl)benzene with BCl3

A mixture of 1,4-bis(1-chloro-1-methylethyl)benzene ( 1 ) and BCl₃ at ?80°C in CH₂Cl₂ yields a red colour, which is explained as a result of the formation of a charge transfer (CT) complex between the carbenium ion formed after Cl^? abstraction from 1 and the aromatic π-system of 1 . This view is supported by UV/VIS and conductivity measurements. These measurements and their consequences for the cationic polymerization are discussed in detail.