Abstract 2-(Dichloromethylidene)-1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethylindane was “hydrolyzed” by solid KOH in DMSO as the solvent at≥ 100 C through an initial chlorine particle transfer to give a Cl, K-carbenoid. This short-lived intermediate disclosed its occurrence through a reversible proton transfer which competed with an oxygen transfer from DMSO that created dimethyl sulfide. The presumably resultant transitory ketene incorporated KOH to afford the ...