Rearrangement during halogenation of 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylpropan-1-one (α-methylbenzoin)

The reaction of 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylpropan-1-one 1 with SOCl2 or PBr3 gives, respectively, the 3-chloro- and 3-bromo-1,2-diphenylpropan-1-ones 4 and 6. The expected 2-chloro- and 2-bromo-1,2-diphenylpropan-1-ones 2 and 5 can, however, be formed by treatment of 1,2-diphenylpropan-1-one 8 with Cl2 or Br2/AlCl3. The four halogenated products are characterised by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy for the first time.