Reactions of Aliphatic Diazo Compounds: III. Reaction of Ethyl Diazoacetate with 1,3-Diarylpropenones

Ethyl diazoacetate adds to 1,3-diarylpropenones in a regioselective fashion to give intermediate 4,5-dihydro-3H-pyrazole derivative; 1,3-hydride shift in the latter leads to formation of isomeric ethyl 4-aryl- 5-aroyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate and ethyl 4-aryl-3-aroyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxylate at a ratio of 5:1. Thermolysis of these products is not stereospecific; as a result, three isomeric substituted ethyl cyclopropanecarboxylates and 2-pyranone derivative are formed.