Preparation of cyclopentadienes and diazocyclopentadienesvia cyclopentenolones and cyclopentenones

The structure and stereochemistry of the cyclopentenolones obtained by condensation of dialkyl ketones with benzil have been studied by NMR spectroscopy. These enolones were converted into cyclopentenones and cyclopentadienes. Alkyl-substituted cyclopentadienes required phenyllithium to effect their conversion by toluenesulphonyl azide into diazo-cyclopentadienes; otherwise piperidine sufficed as base catalyst.2,3,4-Triphenyldiazocyclopentadiene was simply procured by reaction of the condensation product of benzil and phenylacetone with toluenesulphonylhydrazone followed by alkali. Cyclohexyl- and methoxy-triphenylcyclopentadienes were prepared by photolytic decomposition of diazotriphenylcyclopentadiene in cyclohexane or methanol respectively.