Esters of buta-2-, 3-dienoic acid and its methyl-substituted analogues react with 2- diazopropane at more electrophilic (αβ) double-bond, but the orientation of addition is dependent on the degree of substitution at the γ-carbon atom. Allenes monosubstituted or unsubstituted at the γ-position give 4-alkylidene-1-pyrazolines (ie the electronically preferred adducts). The initial adduct from methyl buta-2, 3-dienoate isomerises under the ...