Triketones, from diketone dianions

On the pages which follow, general methods are illustrated for the synthesis of a wide variety of classes of organic compounds including acyl isocyanates (from amides and oxalyl chloride p. 16), epoxides (from reductive coupling of aromatic aldehydes by hexamethylphosphorous triamide p. 31), a-fluoro acids (from 1-alkenes p. 37), 0-lactams (from olefins and chlorosulfonyl isocyanate p. 51), 1 y3,5-triketones (from dianions of 1,3-diketones and esters p. 57), sulfinate esters (from disulfides, alcohols, and lead tetraacetate p. 62), carboxylic acids (from carbonylation of alcohols or olefins via carbonium-ion intermediates p. 72), sulfoxides (from sulfides and sodium periodate p. 78), carbazoles... 

Aromatic esters may be used to aroylate the dianions derived from 1,3-diketones by reaction with potassium amide (60JOC538). Not only are acetyl and benzoyl acetones suitable for reaction, but alicyclic diketones and 2-hydroxyacetophenone are also acceptable. Cycliz-ation of the triketones occurs in cold sulfuric acid, presumably via the enolic form and the hemiacetal (Scheme 132). 

Phenylation and arylation have also been performed in bifunctional compounds such as malonates, /1-diketones and /1-ketoesters (Table 8.4). Diethyl malonate was arylated at room temperature affording mixtures of mono- and bis-arylated products, whereas isopropylidene malonate (Meldrum s acid) underwent bis arylation directly. Dimedone, the all carbon analogue of Meldrum s acid, was also mono-and bis-phenylated, with some concomitant O-phenylation [33], Generally, / -diketones show often ambident reactivity but the O-arylated product is normally the minor one an exception was noted in the triketone (PhCO)2CHCOPh which underwent mainly O-phenylation (68%) [33], Several dianions from /1-diketones have been arylated in high yields at the a-position, in a procedure superior to other methods [35]. 

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