Formation of the guinone directly from an intermediate in the reaction rather than by air oxidation of the dihydroxy compound would require that a hydride ion as well as a proton be lost before hydrolysis but after ring closure of the glyoxal-aluminum chloride complex had occurred. The starting material, 2-acetylbiphenyl, was prepared. by the procedure of Campaigne and Reida as well as that of Huber, Renoll, Rossow, and M~ wry.~ The ...
