.alpha.-Chlorination process

A process for .alpha.-chlorination of a side chain of an aromatic compound which comprises contacting dichlorine monoxide with an aromatic compound of the formula ##STR43## wherein for Formula I;

• X is NO.sub.2, CN, CF.sub.3, Cl, Br, F, ##STR44## SO.sub.2 R.sub.2, SO.sub.3 R.sub.2, SO.sub.2 CF.sub.3, SO.sub.2 Cl, SO.sub.2 NR.sub.3 R.sub.4, ##STR45## or CCl.sub.3 ;
• Y is H, NO.sub.2, Cl, Br, F, CN, CF.sub.3, ##STR46## SO.sub.2 R.sub.2, SO.sub.3 R.sub.2, SO.sub.2 NR.sub.3 R.sub.4, OCF.sub.3, ##STR47## OR.sub.6 or aryl;
• Z is H, Cl or Br;
• and for Formulae II-V:
• X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are independently NO.sub.2, CN, CF.sub.3, Cl, Br, F, ##STR48## SO.sub.2 R.sub.2, SO.sub.3 R.sub.2, SO.sub.2 CF.sub.3, SO.sub.2 Cl, SO.sub.2 NR.sub.3 R.sub.4, ##STR49## or CCl.sub.3 or can be H for Formula III;
• Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 are independently H, NO.sub.2, Cl, Br, CN or ##STR50## wherein in Formula I to V, R.sub.1 is alkyl of 1-8 carbons, aryl, alkoxy of 1-4 carbons, OH or NR.sub.3 R.sub.4 ;
• R.sub.2 is alkyl of 1-4 carbons;
• R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently H or alkyl of 1-4 carbons;
• R.sub.5 is alkyl of 1-8 carbons, trifluoromethyl, or aryl;
• R.sub.6 is H or alkyl of 1-3 carbons;
• and furthermore,
• R' and R" are independently H, alkyl of 1-3 carbons, or are joined to form a carbocyclic ring of 5 or 6 carbons;
• and for R", it can also be alkyl of 1-20 carbon atoms;
• R'", R.sup.IV and R.sup.V are independently H or methyl;
• R.sup.VI and R.sup.VII are independently H, alkyl of 1-3 carbon or are joined to form a carbocyclic ring of 5 or 6 carbons;
• a is 0 or 1;
• b, and c are independently 1 or 2;
• n is 1 or 2;
• d is 0, 1, or 2;
• m is 0-6;
• provided when X= ##STR51## Y and Z both cannot be H provided when y=OR.sub.6, Z cannot be H.