SYNTHESIS OF 2,2-DIPHENYL-3-OXETANOL DERIVATIVES AND THEIR THERMAL OR ACID-CATALYZED DECOMPOSITION

A series of five different 2,2-diphenyl-3-oxetanols was synthesized by photocycloaddition of benzophenone and enol trimethylsilyl ethers followed by protolysis of the resultant 3-trimethylsiloxyoxetanes. Thermal cleavage and acid-catalyzed rearrangement of these oxetanes are described.