The model reaction of n-butyllithium with excess (11 M equivalents) 1,1-diphenylethylene (ORE) was reinvestigated using modern characterization techniques including SEC, one dimensional and two dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (ID and 2D NMR) spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS). The products were the monoadduct, 1,1-diphenylhexane (nBuDPEH), and the diadduct, 1,1,3,3-tetraphenyloctane [nBu(DPE)(2)H], formed in 62 mol% and 38 mol% yields, respectively, as determined by SEC and H-1 NMR spectroscopy. The H-1 NMR spectrum of 1,1,3,3-tetraphenyloctane exhibited a terminal methine triplet resonance at delta 3.71 ppm that was uniquely coupled to the adjacent methylene doublet resonance at delta 3.09 ppm, located between the two carbons, each bonded to two phenyl groups [-C(C6H5)(2)-CH2-CH(C6H5)(2). All of the characteristic H-1 and C-13 NMR resonances for both adducts were assigned using 2D NMR spectroscopic methods. The diadduct, nBu(DPE)(2)H, exhibited unique C-13 NMR resonances at delta 50.79 ppm for the quaternary carbon resonance [CH2-C(C6H5)(2)-CH2], and at delta 43.74 ppm for the methylene group isolated between the two carbons, each bonded to two phenyl groups [-C(C6H5)(2)-CH2-CH(C6H5)(2)]. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.