Formation of a δ-diketone in the cathodic cleavage of a β-keto-sulphoxide
Abstract
Electrolytic reductive cleavage on mercury of the β-keto-sulphoxide,p-methoxy-2-(methylsulphinyl)acetophenone at pH 12 in aqueous dimethylformamide gives as main product a δ-diketone, 1,3-di-p-anisoylpropane, i.e. a compound containing an odd number of carbon atoms. It is suggested that this compound is formed via a carbanionic mechanism, dimethylformamide acting as a formylating agent.