The Schmidt reaction of acraldehyde, methyl vinyl ketone, and ethyl vinyl ketone leads to the formation of ammonia with pyruvaldehyde, biacetyl, and pentane-2, 3-dione, respectively, through the intermediate formation of β-azidocarbonyl compounds. For methyl isopropenyl ketone and mesityl oxide neither the Schmidt reaction of the ketone nor the acid-catalysed decomposition of the β-azido-ketone leads to similar products.
