Aromatic Spiranes XX [1]: Syntheses of Dimethylsubstituted 2-Carboxymethyl-indan-1-ones and Benzylchlorides as Synthones for Syntheses of di- to tetramethylsubstituted Spirobiindandiones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1007/BF00807400

The isomeric dimethyl methylbenzoates 5, obtained from the bromides via Grignard reactions with dimethylcarbonate, were reduced with LiAlH₄ to the hydroxymethyl derivatives 6. The latter were then transformed both to the benzylchlorides 7 (with SOCl₂) and to the aldehydes 8 (with pyridinium chlorochromate). Knoevenagel-Doebner reaction of 8 afforded the acrylic acids 9 which (after hydrogenation to 11) were cyclized to the desired indanones 12 with polyphosphoric acid. On the other hand, 12c and 12e were prepared from dimethyl 3-chloropropiophenone (14) by warming with sulfuric acid. After NaH-catalyzed reaction with dimethylcarbonate, the indanones 12 gave the ketoesters 15 which then could be hydrogenated to the indanes 16. All reactions proceeded with satisfactory to excellent yields (60-90%).