A Simple Route to Racemic Acenaphthene-1-carboxylic Acid via Hydroformylation of Acenaphthylene

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-1988-27742

Hydroformylation of acenaphthylene using di-μ-chlorotetracarbonyldirhodium/triphenylphosphine as catalytic precursor affords acenaphthene-1-carboxaldehyde under mild conditions in 80percent yield.This compound is easily transformed, via dehydration of the corresponding oxime followed by hydrolysis of the nitrile, into acenaphthene-1-carboxylic acid in an overall yield of ca. 50percent.