Course of oxidation of 1, 1‐disubstituted ethylenes by chromic acid

The oxidation of 1,1-diphenylethylene by chromic acid gives a fair yield of diphenylacetic acid. 1,1-Di-(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene and 2-phenylprop-1-ene are similarly oxidised to acids which have the same number of carbon atoms as the original olefins. 2-Phenyl-3,3-dimethylbut-1-ene and 1,1-di-(p-tolyl)ethylene give abnormal fission products on chromic acid oxidation. The significcane of these results is discussed.