Reaction Mechanism
The mechanism of the Wharton reaction begins with reaction of the ketone (1) with hydrazine to form a hydrazone (2). Rearrangement of the hydrazone gives intermediate 3, which can decompose giving off nitrogen gas forming the desired product 4. Stork et al. have investigated the mechanism of the final decomposition and found that it can proceed by an ionic mechanism or a radical mechanism depending on reaction temperature, solvent used, and structure of intermediate 3.
Notice that the alcohol retains the configuration of the starting epoxide. The reaction is named after Peter Stanley Wharton.
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