Carbenes carbon atom deoxygenation

In contrast to carbenes, nitrene attacks only the carbon and never the sulfur atom of thiophene the only exception to this is discussed in Section 3.14.3.5. Unsubstituted thieno[3,2-/>]pyrrole and thieno[2,3-6]pyrrole have been prepared by thermolysis of the corresponding vinyl azides (Scheme 68) (81IJC(B)27l). A bis-cyclization of this type has also been reported (73CR(C)(277)1149>. Similarly, in the benzo[Z>jthiophene series the nitrene (252), generated either by thermolysis of the azide or by P(OEt)3 induced deoxygenation of the nitro compound, gives only the condensed indole (253) (79AG(E)900). 

The first instance of a carbene with hydroxy-group bonded to the bivalent carbon has been encountered in the deoxygenation of acetic acid to acetaldehyde by atomic carbon methyl acetate reacts in an analogous manner (Scheme 5). 

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