10.1016/j.tet.2004.09.004
The research explores the acid-catalyzed condensation reactions of 2-hydroxy-2,20-biindan-1,10,3,30-tetrone with various phenols, methoxyaromatic systems, and enols. The purpose of this study is to investigate the electrophilic chemistry of 2-hydroxy-2,2-biindan-1,10,3,30-tetrone, a partially reduced derivative of hydrindantin, which is more stable in acidic conditions compared to hydrindantin itself. The researchers found that this compound readily reacts with a range of substrates to form 2-aryl/alkyl-2,20-biindan-1,10,3,30-tetrones and chromenes in high yields. Notably, resorcinol, 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene, and a- and b-naphthols preferentially form intramolecular hemi-ketal structures, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies.