Abstract Photochemical decomposition of 2, 2-dialkyl-5-diazo-1, 3-dioxane-4, 6-diones in the presence of pyridine, methanol, or dimethyl sulfide as carbene traps involves mainly the Wolff rearrangement which is likely to follow a concerted pattern, while the yield of the “carbene” products does not exceed 27–28%. No carbene intermediates are formed in the photolysis of the corresponding dioxo sulfonium ylides under analogous conditions, and ...