Hydrochloric Acid → 5H-Dibenzo(a,d)cycloheptene-2-acetic acid, alpha-methyl-5-oxo-

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Reaction Steps

23.4 Gm. of 5,5-ethylenedioxy-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-2-yl acetonitrile is refluxed for seven hours in 160 ml. of acetic acid and 240 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid. The solution is cooled and added to ethyl acetate and water. The organic layer is washed with water then extracted with aqueous sodium carbonate. The extract is acidified with hydrochloric acid and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract is dried and evaporated to afford the product which is recrystallized from acetone/hexane to give 9.5 gm., 50%, of 5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5-on-2-yl acetic acid, m.p. 148°-149.5°C. Use of 2-(5,5-ethylenedioxy-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-2-yl)propionitrile gives a 75% yield of 2-(5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5-on-2-yl)propionic acid, m.p. (chloroform-hexane) 138°-139°C.; m.p. (acetone-hexane) 113°-115°C.

Provenance & Evidence