NOVEL AND FACILE SYNTHESES OF ALKENYL, ALKYNYL, AND ARYL 1,2-DIKETONES

Novel and facile routes to alkenyl, alkynyl, and aryl 1,2-diketones ut ilize treatment of benzotriazole derivatives 1, 7a,b, and 15a-d with b utyllithium and subsequent reaction with esters or acid chlorides to y ield the substituted intermediates 2a-d, 8a,b, and 16a-g. Reactions of the deprotonated 1 and 7 with alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes follow ed by oxidation also produces similar intermediates 5 and 11a,b. Subse quent hydrolyses of the intermediates of type 2, 5, 8, 11, and 16 affo rd diverse 1,2-diketones in good yields.