As can be seen from Scheme A, the equilibrium of the addition reaction is considered to be far on the side of the alkali salt of the carbinol Ia. Evidence for this is the observation that the characteristic red color of the diphenylmethide ion is discharged by a molecular equivalent of the ketone. Moreover, this explains the high yields of the carbinol I obtained when the reaction mixture is poured into excess ammonium chloride, under which conditions the ...
