Facile synthesis and rearrangement of L-threo-2,3-hexodiulosono-1,4-lactone 2-(2-arylhydrazones)

Controlled reaction of L-threo-2,3-hexodiulosono-1,4-lactone with substituted phenylhydrazines gave the 2-(monoarylhydrazones) (2), which underwent dehydrative acetylation to 4-(2-acetoxyethylidene)-4-hydroxy-2,3-dioxohutyro-1,4-lactone 2-(2-arylhydrazones) (3). The latter reacted with methylhydrazine to give 1-methyl-3-(1-methylpyrazolin-3-yl)-4,5-pyrazoledione 4-(2-arylhydrazones) (4). Reaction of the monoarythydrazones (2) with phenylhydrazine gave the mixed bishydrazones (5), which were rearranged by alkali and acidification to the pyrazolediones (6). Compounds 6 gave triacetyl (7) and tribenzoyl derivatives (8), and, on periodite oxidation, the aldehydes (9), which afforded the monohydrazones (10). The i.r.. n.m.r.. and mass-spectral data of some of the compounds were investigated.