Difference in Reactivity during Alkylation of 2-(2-Hydroxyaryl)-1,3-indanedione and N-(2-Hydroxyphenyl)phthalimide

Friedel-Crafts type reactions of ninhydrin (1,2,3-indantrione) have been examined by us and other groups. Besides the common arene compounds phenolic compounds could be used to prepare the corresponding 2-(2-hydroxyaryl)-2- hydroxy-1,3-indanedione derivatives such as 1. Recently, we have reported on the unusual formation of benzo[b]indeno[2,1-d]furanone ring system 3 as well as the normally expected 2 during alkylation of 2-(2-hydroxyaryl)- 2-hydroxy-1,3-indanedione derivative 1 as shown in Scheme 1