1,1-Diphenylethylene is used in the preparation of 2-chloro-1,1-diphenyl-ethene by reacting with benzeneseleninyl chloride and aluminum(III) chloride as reagents. It acts as an intermediate in organic synthesis as well as in pharmaceuticals.
1,1-Diphenylethylene can be prepared by the action of alcoholic potassium hydroxide on unsymmetrical diphenylchloroethane; by the action of aluminum chloride on benzene and tribromoethylene; and by dehydration of the carbinol which can be prepared by the action of methylmagnesium iodide on benzophenone, or phenylmagnesium bromide on acetophenone or ethyl acetate.