Reaction of 2,2-dichloroacetophenone and benzaldehydes under conditions of the darzens condensation

The reaction of 2,2-dichloroacetophenone with benzaldehydes was studied under Darzens condensation conditions. Benzaldehyde, p-bromobenzaldehyde, and o,p-dichlorobenzaldehyde condensed with 2,2-dichloroacetophenone to give 1-phenyl-3-aryl-3-chloro-1,2-propanediones. In the case of p-nitrobenzaldehyde, 1-phenyl-2-chloro-3-(p-nitrophenyl)-2,3-epoxy-1-propanone, which is the product of the first step of the Darzens condensation, was isolated.