A new route to aromatic ketenimines is described. The reaction of diphenylmethylenearylamines with chloroform/t-butoxide gave 1,3,3-triaryl-2,2-dichloroaziridines which could be pyrolytically converted to N-aryl-α-chlorodiphenylacetimidoyl chloride. When the 2,2-dichloroaziridines were treated with excess sodium iodide in acetone, aromatic ketenimines were obtained in excellent yields.
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Ichimura et al. (1967) studied this question.