Use of 2,4,6-tri-isopropylbenzenesulphonyl hydrazide in the mcfadyen-stevens aldehyde synthesis

Aroyl derivatives of 2,4,6-tri-isopropylbenzenesulphonyl hydrazide decompose readily in the presence of potassium carbonate in boiling methanol solution to give aldehydes and varying quantities of the corresponding alcohols and methyl esters. The formation of the latter by-products is suppressed and good yields of aldehydes are obtained when hydrazine is added to the reaction medium.