Formaldehyde → Bis(3-methyl-2-indenyl)methane

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

In a 500 mL flask equipped with magnetic stirring bar were introduced 14.8 g (0.114 moles) of 3-methyl-indene, 2.3 g (0.077 moles) of para-formaldehyde and 4.37 g (0.023 moles) of para-toluenesulphonic acid in 200 ml of toluene; the mixture was heated to 80° C. and was maintained under stirring for 1 hour at 80° C. Then the reaction was quenched with water/NaHCO3; the conversion, measured by gas chromatographic analysis, was 85.9%. The organic layer was separated, washed with water and brought to dryness under reduced pressure. The crude product was crystallized upon standing at room temperature, and then was further purified by washing with pentane or MeOH, thus isolating 15.5 g of bis(3-methyl-2-indenyl)methane (purity of 89.8% by G.C.; yield=89.8%).

Provenance & Evidence