Rhodium(II)-catalysed cyclisation of diazoketones derived from biphenyl; a new route to benz[a]azulenes and related systems
Abstract
Cyclisation of 2-diazoacetylbiphenyl with rhodium(II) acetate or mandelate yields the unstable benz[a]azulen-10(9aH)-one from which benz[a]azulene can be obtained by lithium aluminium hydride reduction; similar reactions with the related diazoketones (2)–(5) yield stable benzobicyclotrienones in high yield.