Aluminium reaction layer from

The apparatus required is similar to that described for Diphenylmelhane (Section IV,4). Place a mixture of 200 g. (230 ml.) of dry benzene and 40 g. (26 ml.) of dry chloroform (1) in the flask, and add 35 g. of anhydrous aluminium chloride in portions of about 6 g. at intervals of 5 minutes with constant shaking. The reaction sets in upon the addition of the aluminium chloride and the liquid boils with the evolution of hydrogen chloride. Complete the reaction by refluxing for 30 minutes on a water bath. When cold, pour the contents of the flask very cautiously on to 250 g. of crushed ice and 10 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid. Separate the upper benzene layer, dry it with anhydrous calcium chloride or magnesium sulphate, and remove the benzene in a 100 ml. Claisen flask (see Fig. II, 13, 4) at atmospheric pressure. Distil the remaining oil under reduced pressure use the apparatus shown in Fig. 11,19, 1, and collect the fraction b.p. 190-215°/10 mm. separately. This is crude triphenylmethane and solidifies on cooling. Recrystallise it from about four times its weight of ethyl alcohol (2) the triphenylmethane separates in needles and melts at 92°. The yield is 30 g. 

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