Diaroyl Acetic Acids

Scheme I describes the postulated reaction for the preparation of compound I and may be considered to be the general reaction folr the preparation of any member of the I-V series. The presence of the intermediate, diethyl-di(3-chlorobenzoyl) molonate, shown in Scheme I for compound I was chosen as an example to be characterized and reported in the experimental portion to establish the verity of the proposed course of the reaction.