Process for the preparation of alkali metal derivatives of conjugated diolefins and vinyl aromatic compounds

Claim 1

A PROCESS WHICH COMPRISES SELECTIVELY REACTING A HYDROCARBON SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF CONJUGATED DIOLEFINS AND VINYL AROMATIC COMPOUNDS WITH A FINELY DISPERSED ALKALI METAL IN A REACTION MEDIUM CONSISTING SUBSTANTIALLY OF AN ETHER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALIPHATIC MONOETHERS HAVING A METHOXY GROUP AND AN OXYGEN TO CARBON RATIO OF NOT LESS THAN 1:4 AND POLYETHERS DERIVED FROM AN ALIPHATIC POLHYDRIC ALCOHOL HAVING ALL THE HYDROXYL HYDROGEN ATOMS REPLACED BY ALKYL GROUPS AND MIXTURES THEREOF AT A TEMPERATURE BELOW ABOUT 0*C. AND IN THE PRESENCE OF A SMALL AMOUNT OF A POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON THEREBY SELECTIVELY FORMING THE CORRESPONDING DIALKALI METAL DERIVATIVES OF THE DIMERS OF SAID HYDROCARBON, SAID REACTION BEING CARRIED OUT WITH USE OF THE ALKALI METAL IN EXCESS OF THAT THEORETICALLY REQUIRED FOR MOL TO MOL REACTION OF ALKALI METAL WITH SAID HYDROCARBON BUT IN EXCESS OF NOT MORE THAN ABOUT 15%.