Pericyclic Reaction of a Zwitterionic Salt of an Enedione-diazoester. A Novel Strategy for the Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Resorcinols

Enedione-diazoesters formed from 3-TBSO-2-diazo-3-butenoates undergo base-catalyzed pericyclization that with dinitrogen extrusion and methyl migration provide a novel and efficient route to 2-carboalkoxyresorcinols. Intercepting the intermediate enolate anion with methyl vinyl ketone leads to the corresponding 4-substituted 2-carboalkoxyresorcinol and suggests generalization of this methodology.