Ethanol → (2-Ethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-5-yl)acetic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

12.8 g of 2-ethyl-5-indan-acetonitrile are dissolved in 350 cc of ethanol, a solution of 26.7 g of potassium hydroxide in 45 cc of water is added, and the mixture is boiled at reflux for 20 hours. The solution is concentrated to 50 cc, diluted with water and extracted with ether, and the ether phase is discarded. The aqueous phase is then acidified with 2 N hydrochloric acid and extracted with ether. The crude 2-ethyl-5-indanacetic acid, obtained after concentrating the ether extract, is purified by chromatography on a 50-fold quantity of silica gel using chloroform containing 1.5% of methanol as eluant. After recrystallization from hexane the title compound has a M.P. of 44°-46°.

Provenance & Evidence