Rearrangements of the Benzilic Acid Type; Preparation and Use of Dialkali Metal Adducts of Aromatic Ketones.

Introduction: The benzilic acid rearrangement is the base-catalyzed transformation of an α-diketone to the salt of an α-hydroxy acid. This rearrangement can be effected in aromatic, semi-aromatic (o-quinones), in alicyclic, and aliphatic, as well as in heterocyclic α-diketones. Examples of the rearrangement in the above type compounds are illustrated in equations 1-6.