Title: The Wolff Rearrangement. IV. The Silver-salt Catalyzed Decomposition of α-Diazoacetophenones in Benzene Solution
Abstract: Abstract The decomposition of α-diazoacetophenone (I) in benzene solution has been studied using a silver benzoate-triethylamine catalyst at 50°C in an atmosphere of nitrogen. The reaction gave 3-benzoyl-4-hydroxy-5-phenylpyrazole (II) and β-phenylpropiophenone (III). In the decomposition of the substituted compounds, such as p-methoxy-, p-methyl- and p-nitro-α-diazoacetophenones, the corresponding substituent products of II and III were also obtained. The formation of II and III is reasonably explained by assuming two kinds of reactions between phenylketene and I.