As part of our research program, 5 in the synthesis of pyrazoles from β-keto esters, we were interested in the reactivity of enolates of β-keto esters with hydrazines. In this process we were interested in checking the stability and reactivity of ketone enolates. The aryl ketone enolates 2 in aryl β-keto esters were stabilized by their extended conjugation with aromatic systems (Fig. 1) which reduces the reactivity of the ketone to a great extent. These enolized aryl ketones 2 were ...
