Büchner–Curtius–Schlotterbeck reaction
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The Buchner–Curtius–Schlotterbeck reaction is the reaction of aldehydes or ketones with aliphatic diazoalkanes to form homologated ketones.[1] It was first described by Eduard Buchner and Theodor Curtius in 1885[2] and later by Fritz Schlotterbeck in 1907.[3] Two German chemists also preceded Schlotterbeck in discovery of the reaction, Hans von Pechmann in 1895 and Viktor Meyer in 1905.[4][5] The reaction has since been extended to the synthesis of β-keto esters from the condensation between aldehydes and diazo esters.[6] The general reaction scheme is as follows:
The reaction yields two possible carbonyl compounds (I and II) along with an epoxide (III). The ratio of the products is determined by the reactant used and the reaction conditions.