Methanol → HCID 91193695, compound

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

30.5 g (95.7 mmole) 7-(4′-Methylphenyl)-2-cyclohexylmethyl-indan-1-one were dissolved in 89 ml toluene in a 500 ml-roundbottom flask equipped with a reflux condenser. 3.62 g (1.0 eq.) sodium borohydride were added. Then 17.9 ml (4.35 eq.) methanol were added at 50° C. and the mixture was stirred for 8 h at 50° C. 2M sulphuric acid was added until the gas evolution ceased. After addition of 100 ml water the layers were separated and the organic layer was washed two times with 2M sulphuric acid and once with a saturated sodium chloride solution. The solvent was evaporated and the crude indanol was dissolved in approx. 200 ml of toluene. After addition of 0.4 g p-toluene sulfonic acid the mixture was heated to reflux using a Dean-Stark-trap until TLC showed complete conversion (90 min). The solution was washed twice with a saturated NaHCO3-solution, once with water and once with a saturated sodium chloride solution. Drying over magnesium sulphate and evaporation of the solvent afforded 29 g (quant.) of the desired indene as a slightly offwhite oil. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ=7.42-7.14 (m, 7H, aromatic), 6.66 (s, 1H, C═CH), 3.36 (s, 2H, benzylic), 2.41 (s, 3H, PhCH3), 2.35 (d, 2H, CH2Cy), 1.70-0.83 (m, 11H, aliphatic) ppm.

Provenance & Evidence