Acetone → 2,3-Dihydro-1H-indene-1,2-diol

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a stirred solution of indene (0.5 g, 4.3 m mol), in a mixture of water (2.5 cm3 acetone (5 cm3) and tert-butanol (1.5 cm3), was added 4-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (0.6 g, 5.9 mmol) and a solution of osmium tetroxide in carbon tetrachloride (0.005 g/0.5 cm3). After stirring the reaction mixture for three days, at ambient temperature, a saturated aqueous solution of sodium metabisulphite (0.5 cm3) was added and the stirring was continued for another hour. The reaction mixture was diluted with water (50 cm3), extracted with ethyl acetate (2×50 cm3) and dried (Na2SO4). Distillation of the solvent, from the organic extract, under reduced pressure, gave crude racemic (1R:2S/1S:2R) 1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydroindene as off-white fluffy crystals (0.63 g, 97%) m.pt. 98°-100° C.

Provenance & Evidence