Reaction of methyl 2-di1nethylamino-3, 3-dimethylcyclobutanecarbox~ late (I) with phenylmagnesium bromide does not produce the expected diphenyl (2-dimethylami1io-3, 3- dimethyl) cyclobutylcarbinol(11). The product is instead shown to be 1, 5-diphen~ l-4, 4- dimethyl-5-dimethylaminopentanone-l resulting from ring cleavage and addition of a Grignard radical to the p-carbon atom. The ring-opening reaction is completely general for ...
