Org. Synth. 1940, 20, 94
DOI: 10.15227/orgsyn.020.0094
α-TETRALONE
[1(2H)-Naphthalenone, 3,4-dihydro-]
Submitted by H. R. Snyder and Frank X. Werber.
Checked by E. C. Horning and G. N. Walker.
1. Procedure
In a 600-ml. beaker, 80 g. of polyphosphoric acid (Note 1) is warmed on a steam bath to 90°. There is then added in one lot, with manual stirring, 22.0 g. (0.134 mole) of molten γ-phenylbutyric acid (Note 2), previously warmed to 65–70°. The mixture is removed from the steam bath and is stirred steadily by hand for 3 minutes; during this time a temperature of 90° or slightly higher is maintained by the heat of the reaction. An additional 70 g. of polyphosphoric acid is then added, and the mixture is again warmed on a steam bath for 4 minutes while being stirred vigorously by hand. The resulting solution is allowed to cool to 60°, and is hydrolyzed by addition to 200 g. of ice and water.
When the hydrolysis is complete, as indicated by the disappearance of orange, viscous material and the appearance in its stead of yellow oil, the aqueous mixture is transferred to a 500-ml. separatory funnel and extracted with two portions of ether, 200 ml. and 100 ml., respectively. The extracts are combined and washed successively with 200 ml. of water, two 100-ml. portions of 5% sodium hydroxide solution (Note 3), 200 ml. of water, 100 ml. of 3% aqueous acetic acid, 100 ml. of 5% sodium bicarbonate solution, and 100 ml. of water. The ether solution is dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The ether is removed either by evaporation on a steam bath or by distillation from a 50-ml. flask into which the solution is introduced continuously, as fast as the solvent is distilled, by means of a dropping funnel reaching below the side arm of the distilling head. The flask is fitted with a 6-in. Vigreux column, and the residual oil is distilled under reduced pressure. There is obtained 14.8–16.9 g. (75–86%) of colorless oil, b.p. 90–91°/0.5–0.7 mm. or 94–95°/2.1–2.3 mm. (Note 4).
2. Notes
1.
Polyphosphoric acid obtained from the Victor Chemical Company, Chicago, was used.
2.
γ-Phenylbutyric acid was obtained by catalytic reduction (palladium-charcoal) of
β-benzoylpropionic acid and was purified by distillation; the yield of material, b.p.
133–135°/1.0–1.3 mm., was
96%.
3.
The amount of unchanged
γ-phenylbutyric acid obtained by acidification of the alkaline solution is negligible. When only
72 g. of polyphosphoric acid in one lot was employed in the reaction, there was recovered
1.5 g. of γ-phenylbutyric acid, and the yield of
α-tetralone was
15.9 g. (
81%).
4.
The submitters have used
polyphosphoric acid in the cyclization of
hydrocinnamic acid,
2-bromo-5-methoxyhydrocinnamic acid, and
o-benzoylbenzoic acid.
3. Discussion
Other methods of preparation have been reviewed in earlier volumes.
1,2 The method consisting of air oxidation of
tetralin2,3,4,5,6 has in some cases been aided by the use of
copper oxide4 or sulfate,
5 and has been said to yield a product which is contaminated with
α-tetralol.
7 The ketone has also been prepared from
γ-phenylbutyric acid by cyclization with
phosphoric acid-phosphoric anhydride8 and with
hydrofluoric acid,
9 and from
γ-phenylbutyryl chloride by the action of
aluminum chloride.
10 The method described is essentially that of Synder and Werber.
11This preparation is referenced from:
Appendix
Chemical Abstracts Nomenclature (Collective Index Number);
(Registry Number)
polyphosphoric acid
acetic acid (64-19-7)
ether (60-29-7)
sodium hydroxide (1310-73-2)
sodium bicarbonate (144-55-8)
hydrofluoric acid (7664-39-3)
aluminum chloride (3495-54-3)
copper oxide (1317-38-0)
Hydrocinnamic acid (501-52-0)
Tetralin (119-64-2)
magnesium sulfate (7487-88-9)
β-Benzoylpropionic acid (2051-95-8)
γ-Phenylbutyric acid (1821-12-1)
α-Tetralone,
1(2H)-Naphthalenone, 3,4-dihydro- (529-34-0)
γ-phenylbutyryl chloride
α-tetralol (529-33-9)
phosphoric acid-phosphoric anhydride (2466-09-3)
o-benzoylbenzoic acid (85-52-9)
2-bromo-5-methoxyhydrocinnamic acid
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