Gas-Chromatographic Study of Hydrazine Reaction with Metal β-Diketonates

When treated with hydrazine, metal β-diketonates undergo decomposition to form the corresponding pyrazoles, irrespective of the kinetic stability of the chelates. With substituted metal chelates, the main reaction products are pyrazoles bearing in position 4 the γ-substituent of the compex. Other products are formed when the substituent has centers sensitive to nucleophilic substitution and/or elimination. The reaction can be used for structural assessment of the starting β-diketonate.