Methyl phenyldiazoacetate is the

organic compound In chemistry, organic compounds are generally any chemical compounds that contain carbon- hydrogen or carbon-carbon bonds. Due to carbon's ability to catenate (form chains with other carbon atoms), millions of organic compounds are known. Th ...

with the formula C₆H₅C(N₂)CO₂Me. It is a

diazo The diazo group is an organic moiety consisting of two linked nitrogen atoms ( azo) at the terminal position. Overall charge neutral organic compounds containing the diazo group bound to a carbon atom are called diazo compounds or diazoalkanes ...

derivative of methyl phenylacetate. Colloguially referred to as "phenyldiazoacetate", it is generated and used in situ after isolation as a yellow oil. Methyl phenyldiazoacetate and many related derivatives are precursors to donor-acceptor carbenes, which can be used for cyclopropanation or to insert into C-H bonds of organic substrates. These reactions are catalyzed by dirhodium tetraacetate or related chiral complexes. Methyl phenyldiazoacetate is prepared by treating methyl phenylacetate with p-acetamidobenzenesulfonyl azide in the presence of base. DOXGON

References

{{Reflist Diazo compounds Reagents for organic chemistry