Geometrical isomerism of phenylhydrazones of α-keto esters. II: p-Substituted phenylhydrazones of ethyl pyruvate and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones of somε α-keto esters

Each geometrical isomer of various substituted phenylhydrazones of ethyl pyruvate and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones of some α-keto esters was isolated in a pure state. Partial isomerizations of the E-isomers of the former hydrazones to the Z-isomers took place by keeping solutions of the hydrazones in organic solvents containing C, H, and Cl in the dark. An E- or Z-structure was assigned to each molecule on the basis of IR and 1H NMR spectra. In all cases, isomers with higher Rf-values on a silica gel TLC (using benzene as a developing solvent) involved an intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the imino hydrogen and the ester carbonyl oxygen. Thus, the Z-structure was assigned. An E-structure was assigned to other isomers with lower Rf-values. The present assignment is, thus, entirely the same as that proposed in a previous investigation.