INDENONE SYNTHESIS - IMPROVED SYNTHETIC PROTOCOL AND EFFECT OF SUBSTITUTION ON THE INTRAMOLECULAR FRIEDEL-CRAFTS ACYLATION

An improved protocol for the construction of substituted indenones is presented. Also the effect of substitution on the intramolecular Fried el-Crafts acylation was noted. Specifically, if there is no substituti on at the 2-position of the indenone poor yields of cyclized material were obtained, if at all, while the substitution of a methyl or ethyl group greatly improved the yield of cyclized material. Placement of a large group (e.g., benzyl) resulted in a diminuation of the improved y ield. The new synthetic procedure could, in principle, allow for the c onstruction of 2,3-disubstituted indenones. One example of this reacti on mode was presented.