Thermal and Photochemical Reactions of Sodium Salts of (β-Phosphono Tosylhydrazones

Thermal and photochemical reactions of sodium salts of β-phosphono tosylhydrazones have been investigated. When the sodium salt of dimethyl o-acetylmethylphosphonate tosylhydrazone is heated, the dimethoxyphosphonyl anior., though a relatively strong base, was eliminated. On the other hand, ultraviolet irradiation of the sodium salts of β-phosphono tosylhydrazones leads to dimethoxyphosphonyl-substituted olefins, presumably via the carbene intermediate. Some of the products result from a previously unreported phosphonyl group migration to a carbene.