17.11: Tricarbonyl Compounds

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The properties of tricarbonyl compounds are for the most part as expected, except when the three groups are contiguous to one another, as in diphenylpropanetrione. With such compounds, the central carbonyl group is highly reactive; it is lost, as carbon monoxide, in the presence of acidic catalysts such as aluminum chloride, and adds water readily to give a monohydrate:

Roberts and Caserio Screenshot 17-10-1.png

We shall consider the hydrate of the cyclic triketone, \(18\), known as "ninhydrin", later in connection with amino acids:

Roberts and Caserio Screenshot 17-10-2.png

Contributors and Attributions

John D. Robert and Marjorie C. Caserio (1977) Basic Principles of Organic Chemistry, second edition. W. A. Benjamin, Inc. , Menlo Park, CA. ISBN 0-8053-8329-8. This content is copyrighted under the following conditions, "You are granted permission for individual, educational, research and non-commercial reproduction, distribution, display and performance of this work in any format."