The photochemical reactions of α,β,γ,δ -unsaturated diazo compounds at low temperature

The α,β:γ,δ-unsaturated tosylhydrazone lithium salts (4) undergo photolysis at ?60°C to give vinylcyclopropenes (10) and l,2]diazetol,4-a] pyrroles (11) and/or (12). The formation of (11, X=H) establishes the intermediacy of (8, X=H) in the formation of the 3$\text{H}$-1,2-diazepine (9). The diazoalkene (5, X=Me) showed opposite electrocyclisation periselectivity to its thermal cyclisation and gave (11, X=Me) $\text{via}$ (8, X=Me), rather than the pyrazoles (2) and (3).