Benzene → Ethyl 2-oxo-1-indanecarboxylate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a stirred mixture of sodium hydride (126 g. of a 57% suspension in nujol), 2000 ml. of benzene and 2 ml. of ethanol heated at its reflux temperature under dry nitrogen is added dropwise the diethyl ester of o-phenylene-diacetic acid (335.6 g.) in 700 ml. of benzene. The mixture is refluxed for 1.5 hours, poured into water and extracted with ether. The ether extracts are dried and concentrated to give an oil which is crystallizied from ethanol-water to give 220 g. of the title product with m.p. 58°-61°.

Provenance & Evidence