Abstract The reaction of 1, 3-bis (diazomethy1) benzene with zinc halides in diethyl ether and tetrahydrofuran gave dicarbenoid intermediates which could be trapped by olefins to give moderate yields of dicyclopropylderivatives. Insertion into aCH bonds of the ethereal solvents occurs in the absence of olefins. The dicarbenoid species mC 6 H 4 (CHIZnI) 2 in tetrahydrofuran was found to have a half-life of about 4h at 0 C.
