The reactions between various haloaromatics in binary mixtures which w
ere approximately equimolar, were studied in gas-phase (673 K, atmosph
eric pressure) in the presence of a 2 wt % Cu-HZSM-5 zeolite. The exch
ange of halogens (ipso substitution) between the two compounds was ass
umed to occur either through a radical mechanism involving an electron
transfer between an atom of copper (I) and one aromatic molecule or t
hrough a nucleophilic substitution involving arylcopper complexes as i
ntermediates.