Novel transformation of 2-substituted alkyl 1-indanone-2-acetates to 6-substituted 3,4-benzotropolones through sequential reduction and oxidation processes using Sm(II) and Ce(IV) salts

When 2-substituted alkyl 1-indanone-2-acetates 1 were treated with samarium diiodide, 3-substituted 2-hydroxy-2,3-methano-1-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalenes 4 were obtained. The reaction is proposed to proceed through a rearrangement initiated by intramolecular ketone–ester coupling. Oxidation of these products 4 or their silyl ethers 13 by ceric(IV) ammonium nitrate involving regioselective bond cleavage of their bicyclo[4.1.0]-rings produced the corresponding benzotropolone derivatives 10.