Diazo Decomposition in the Presence of Tributyltin Hydride. Reduction of α-Diazo Carbonyl Compounds

The diazo group of a series of α-diazo carbonyl compounds can be reduced to the corresponding CH2 group by Bu3SnH under Cu(acac)2-catalytic or photochemical conditions. The mechanistic aspects of this reaction were investigated in some detail, and a possible reaction pathway was discussed.