Process for the preparation of (2,2)-paracyclophane and derivatives thereof

A process for preparing (2,2)-paracyclophane and derivatives thereof of the formula:

• ##STR3## wherein B is a halogen atom, an alkyl radical, an aralkyl radical, or a halo-aralkyl radical, having up to 20 carbon atoms, and p is zero or an integer from 1 to 4, by the Hofmann elimination of a p-methylbenzyltrimethyl-ammonium derivative of the formula:
• ##STR4## wherein B and p are the same as defined hereinabove, and Y is a hydroxy radical or a halogen atom, in an alkaline aqueous solution, characterized in that said elimination is carried out at a temperature of 50.degree. to 150.degree. C. and in the presence of at least a catalytic amount of a compound having the formula:
• (R).sub.m --A--(X).sub.n (I)
• wherein A is an aromatic group, X is an electron donor group, R is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, n is an integer from 1 to 6, and m is zero or an integer from 1 up to a value such that the sum m+n is equal to the number of substitutable positions in the aromatic group A, and wherein the electron-donor group X is selected from the group consisting of --OR.sub.1, --N(R.sub.1).sub.2 and --SR.sub.1, and wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen, an alkyl radical having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an aryl radical, an alkyl-aryl radical, or an arylalkyl radical containing from 6 to 18 carbon atoms.