Displacement of Dinitrogen by Oxygen: A Methodology for the Catalytic Conversion of Diazocarbonyl Compounds to Ketocarbonyl Compounds by 2,6-Dichloropyridine-N-oxide

Dirhodium(II) catalyzed dinitrogen extrusion from diazocarbonyl compounds by 2,6-dichloropyridine-N-oxide forms ketocarbonyl compounds in near-quantitative yields. Reactions occur at room temperature, and the pyridine product does not coordinate with dirhodium(II) to inhibit catalysis. Anhydrous tricarbonyl compounds, as well as dicarbonyl compounds, are conveniently prepared by this methodology, and they have been used in situ for catalytic ene and aldol transformations.