ESTER HYDRAZONES AS POSSIBLE PRECURSORS TO ALKOXYDIAZOALKANES: II. THE DECOMPOSITION OF ESTER (p-TOLYLSULFONYL) HYDRAZONE SALTS IN APROTIC SOLVENTS

Abstract

The thermal and photochemical decomposition of methyl benzoate (p-tolylsulfonyl)hydrazone salts in 1,2-dimethoxyethane, 1,2-diethoxyethane, or diglyme gives rise to benzaldehyde dimethyl acetal, methyl benzoate azine (II), meso-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-dimethoxyethane, and methyl α-(p-tolylsulfonyl)benzyl ether. The thermal decomposition in the presence of diethyl fumarate produced diethyl 3-methoxy-3-phenyl-trans-1,2-cyclopropanedicarboxylate (XIV) in 62% yield; a low yield (4%) of the two isomeric forms of 1-methoxy-2-n-octyl-1-phenyl-cyclopropane (V) was formed in 1-decene. The thermal and photochemical decomposition of potassium 4-pentenyl benzoate (p-tolylsulfonyl)hydrazone (XVIII) produced 1-phenyl-2-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane (XXI) in 14 and 21% yield respectively. These products provide additional evidence for the occurrence of alkoxydiazoalkanes and suggest alkoxycarbenes as possible intermediates in the decomposition of ester (p-tolylsulfonyl)hydrazone salts.