Diphenylketene

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Diphenylketene is a chemical of the ketene family.

Contents 1 Physical appearance 2 Structure 3 Spectroscopic information 4 Chemistry and Reactivity

[edit] Physical appearance

Diphenylketene, like most disubstituted ketenes is a red/orange oil at room temperature and pressure.

[edit] Structure

Ph₂C=C=O, molecular weight = 122.16, elemental analysis: C₈H₁₀O

[edit] Spectroscopic information

¹H NMR - Ar protons only (delta shifts between 7 and 8 ppm, showing 1 doublet and two triplets.

UV/vis - Lambda max at 267nm

IR - charicteristic ketene abs. at 2100 cm^-1

[edit] Chemistry and Reactivity

Diphenylketene can undergo nucleophilic attack from a host of nucleophiles, including alcohols, amines, and enolates with fairly slow rates. These rates can be increased in the presence of various catalysts. At present the mechanism of attack is unknown, but various work is underway to determine the exact mechanism.