• Methods used for the cleavage of phenylhydrazones include exchange by refluxing with acetone: J. Org. Chem., 40, 3302 (1975), or oxidative cleavage by Fe(NO3)3 on a clay support: Synthesis, 439 (1985).
• Derivatizing agent for the conversion of carbonyl compounds to their phenylhydrazones best known as intermediates in the Fischer indole synthesis, by cyclization under acidic conditions with loss of ammonia. The classical reagent is anhydrous ZnCl2: Org. Synth. Coll., 3, 725 (1976). For reviews, see: Chem. Rev., 63, 373 (1963); 69, 227 (1969); Tetrahedron, 36, 161 (1980); Org. Prep. Proced. Int., 25,609 (1993). Milder cyclization conditions are sometimes effective, e.g.: dilute H2SO4: J. Org. Chem., 59, 3738 (1994); PCl3: J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 563 (1981); Tetrahedron, 41, 4615 (1985). Cyclohexanone phenylhydrazone gives tetrahydrocarbazole on heating in acetic acid: Org. Synth. Coll., 4, 884 (1963).