A new and efficient synthesis of indenone

Abstract

Reaction of dichloroketone 2 with NEt3 gave indenone (4) in high yield. Catodic reaction of 2 in the presence of C/Pt electrodes afforded the rearranged product 3 in high yield besides a small amount of chlorohydroxyketone 5. Reaction of rearranged dichloroketone 3 with NEt3 provided indenone (4) as the sole product. The mechanism of these reaction was discussed.