THE ACTION OF SULPHURIC ACID ON CERTAIN DERIVATIVES OF CYCLOPROPANE

Abstract

A considerable variety of ketocyclopropanes has been submitted to the action of sulphuric acid, alone or in acetic acid. In general, the mode of reaction was similar to, though less drastic than, that of hydrogen bromide; this indicated a similar mechanism. When the cyclopropane ring was attacked, the product isolated was apparently formed by the addition of a molecule of water or acetic acid, or was the result of a secondary reaction dependent on a primary product so formed. The nitriles were hydrolyzed to amides without opening of the ring. A mechanism is suggested to account for the ring scission of cyclopropyl alcohols, which takes place in a different manner from most cyclopropane derivatives.