Water → 4,7-dimethyl-1H-indene

Participants

Reaction Steps

23 g (1.0 mol) of sodium were dissolved in portions in 250 ml of absolute methanol. A mixture of 45.6 g (0.40 mol) of 2,5-hexanedione and 39.7 g (0.60 mol) of cyclopentadiene was then added dropwise at 0° C. in the course of 1 hour. After the mixture had been stirred at room temperature for 1 hours, 50 ml of water were added and the mixture was extracted with about 2 1 of diethylether. The residue which remained after the solvent had been stripped off was chromatographed on 1.4 kg of silica gel 60. 38 g (65%) of 4,6-dimethylindene (yellowish oil) were eluted with hexane/methylene chloride (10:1).

Provenance & Evidence