Alkalische Spaltung und Benzilsäureumlagerung von 1,2,3‐Triketonen. 29. Mitt. über Reduktone und Tricarbonylverbindungen [1]

Under the conditions of the benzilic acid rearrangement diaryl und dialkyl 1,2,3‐triketones RCOCOCOR′ show two reactions: (1) Migration of RCO towards the more electronegative or less hindered CO group, yielding an α‐hydroxy‐β‐ketoacid which can undergo secondary reactions, and (2) direct cleavage between adjacent carbonyl groups forming RCOOH and R′CHOHCOOH, RCO being more electronegative or less hindered than R′CO. The balance between these reactions depends upon the steric and electronic properties of R and R′.