Process for the production of distyryl-biphenyl compounds

A process for the production of a compound of formula:

• ##STR20## in which X and Y, independently, are hydrogen, halogen, NO.sub.2, CF.sub.3, CN, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, COO--C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, CO--C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, NH--(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl), N(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl).sub.2, NH(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl-OH), N(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl-OH).sub.2, COOH or SO.sub.3 H or an ester or amide thereof, or COOM or SO.sub.3 M in which M is Na, K, Ca, Mg, ammonium, mono-, di-, tri- or tetra-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylammonium, mono-, di- or tri-hydroxyalkylammonium or ammonium that is di- or tri-substituted with a mixture of C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl and C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 hydroxyalkyl groups;
• Z is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, CF.sub.3, halogen (F, Cl, Br, I), SO.sub.3 H or SO.sub.3 M in which M has its previous significance;
• and
• n is 1 or 2;
• comprising
• A) diazotising one mole of an amine of formula:
• ##STR21## in which X and n have their previous significance, to produce a diazonium compound having the formula:
• ##STR22## in which X and n have their previous significance and G.sub.1 is a counter ion;
• and diazotising one mole of an amine of formula:
• ##STR23## in which Y and n have their previous significance, to produce a diazonium compound having the formula:
• ##STR24## in which Y, n and G.sub.1 have their previous significance;
• and B) reacting one mole of a divinyl compound having the formula:
• ##STR25## in which Z has its previous significance, with one mole of a compound having the formula (2) and with one mole of a compound having the formula (3), in the presence of an inorganic or organic palladium salt, or a mixture thereof, as catalyst-precursor.