Chemistry of 1,5-diketones: I. Halogenation of aryl-substituted pent-2-ene-1,5-diones, pentane-1,5-diones, and their fused analogs

Halogenation of 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,5-diphenylpent-2-ene-1,5-dione, 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,5diphenylpentane-1,5-dione, and 2-[1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-oxo-3-phenylpropyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-one with bromine, chlorine, and dichloro(phenyl)-lambda(3)-iodane leads to formation of the corresponding mono- bromo-, dichloro-, or trichloro-substituted 1,5-diketones, depending on the conditions. Halogenation of the aliphatic chain and methoxyphenyl substituent can be accompanied by heterocyclization to give pyrylium salts.