Preparation of phenyl compounds

A method for preparing a compound comprising two phenyl groups by reacting a bisfuranic compound with a dienophile, wherein the dienophile is an alkyne or an alkene and wherein the bisfuranic compound is according to any of the formulae (IIa-IId)

• wherein the furanic moieties are optionally substituted, and wherein
• each R2 is independently H, a heteroatom, a halogen, or linear or branched C1-C8 alkyl, wherein said alkyl is optionally further substituted by halogens and/or heteroatoms,
• each R3 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, a halogen, a heteroatom functional group, and optionally with halogen or heteroatom substituted and/or optionally heteroatom containing C1-C40 hydrocarbyl group, wherein two of said R3 groups can be joined to form a ring, or wherein two of said R3 groups on the same atom are combined to form a substituent having a double bond with said atom,
• and wherein R6 is selected from the group consisting of a heteroatom functional group and optionally with halogen or heteroatom substituted and/or optionally heteroatom containing C1-C40 hydrocarbyl group.