Dimerization of 3-Benzoyl-4-phenylisocrotonic Acid

Abstract

The acid-catalyzed self-condensation of acid 1a formed the tricyclic pseudoacid dichloride 3a, which on pyrolysis underwent a ring-expansion rearrangement to produce the dilactone 5a. The structures and stereochemistries of these dimeric compounds are deduced by a study of their chemical transformations involving extensive use of deuterium incorporation. © 1982, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.