Autoxidation of Diphenylketene. 1. Conditions and Products

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00171a001

In addition to the main product, polybenzilic acid, and benzophenone, the autoxidation of diphenylketene in carbon tetrachloride has been shown to lead to phenyl benzoate (9-27percent).The precursor of polybenzilic acid is diphenylacetolactone, which has been trapped by hexa- and pentafluoroacetone included in the autoxidation solution.Under appropiate conditions trace diphenylacetolactone can also be trapped by diphenylketene itself, leading to the product 9.The mechanism of the autoxidation is discussed in the light of the new observations.The detailed kinetics is still under investigation and will be reported subsequently.