Diastereoisomeric Forms of alpha,alpha’-diphenyl-substituted Adiponitriles

The preparation of some adiponitriles with two equivalent asymmetric carbon atoms in the alpha-alpha' positions is described. The two diastereoisomeric forms isolated for each of them are assigned meso and dl configurations on the basis of a detailed analysis of the NMR signals of the -CH2-CH2- groups, which constitute an AA'BB' spin-spin coupling system. The differences in physical properties of the meso and dl compounds are examined, and some partial and total hydrolysis reactions are described.