The alkylation of ethyl cyclopentanonecarbosylate with several 7-bromo a, b-unsaturated esters has been studied. Chemical and spectroscopic evidence demonstrates that the products (I) have the expected structure, but attempts to utilize them as starting materials for the synthesis of 4-or hlkylazulenes invariably resulted in the formation of l (or 2)- alkylazulenes. Degradation of the intermediate eketoacids I1 obtained from I by reduction ...
