On the ring transformation of hydrazine derivatives of l-ascorbic acid into nitrogen heterocyclic derivatives

l-hreo-2,3-hexodiulosono-1,4-lactone 2-(p-methoxyphenylhydrazone) (1) was condensed with arylhydrazines to give mixed bishydrazones, whose acetylation gave the corresponding di-O-acetyl derivatives. The hydrazone 1 undergoes elimination of one molecule of water per molecule during, the acetylation, and gives 4-(2-acetoxy- ethylidene)-4-hydroxy-2,3-dioxobutano-1,4-lactone 2-(p-methoxyphenylhydrazone), which reacts with methylhydrazine, via a ring transformation process, to give 1-methyl-3-(L-methylpyrazolin-3-yl)-4,5-pyrazoledione 4-(p-methoxyphenylhydrazone). Alkali rearranged the mixed bishydrazones to 1-aryl-3-(l-threo-glycerol-1-yl)-4,5- pyrazoledione 4-(p-methoxyphenylhydrazones), which gave triacetyl and tribenzoyl derivatives, and, upon periodate oxidation, afforded 1-aryl-3-formyl-4,5- pyrazolediones 4-(p-methoxyphenylhydrazones) that gave the corresponding phenylhydrazones. The n.m.r. and mass spectra of some of these derivatives have been investigated.