2-Indanone → Indeno[2,1-b]indole

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 2-indanone (51.0 g, 0.39 mol) and p-tolylhydrazine hydrochloride (61.4 g, 0.39 mol) is dissolved in glacial acetic acid (525 mL) and is vigorously stirred and heated to reflux. The mixture turns red and is heated for 2 h. After cooling to room temperature, it is poured into ice water (1 L). The precipitate is filtered to afford a solid, which is washed with water (about 1 L). The solid is dissolved in ethyl acetate (1.4 L), activated charcoal is added, and the mixture is gently warmed. The mixture is then cooled and filtered over a pad of Celite. The filtrate is dried over Na2SO4 filtered, and is then concentrated to 450 mL and cooled to −30° C. for 3 days. The crystalline solid is filtered and washed with chilled (−78° C.) hexanes (2×500 mL). The beige solid is collected and dried under vacuum (47.1 g, 56%).

Provenance & Evidence