Reaction of Benzopinacol with Pyridine N-Oxide-SbCl5 (1 : 1) Complex

1, 2, 2, 2-Tetraphenylethanone (benzopinacolone (2), tetraphenylethylene oxide (3) and benzophenone (4) were obtained in reaction of 1, 1, 2, 2-tetraphenyl-1, 2-ethanediol (benzopinacol (1) with pyridine N-oxide-SbCl5 (1 : 1) complex (Sb-Complex) in nitromethane. Three pathways were found involved in the formation of 2; i) reaction of 1 with Sb-Complex itself ii) interaction of 3 with Sb-Complex, and iii) reaction of 1 with α-OSbCl4-pyridine derived from the Sb-Complex during the reaction. Compound 4 is appearently formed in the reaction of 1 with pyridine N-oxide liberated from the Sb-Complex.