The structure of cis and trans lsomers of 1-(p-Bromobenzylidene)-2-indanone

Abstract

In this communication we wish to report an interesting case of the isolation and characterization of the cis and trans isomers of 1-(p-bromobenzylidene)-2-indanone and their ketals. Prior to this work, Hoogstreen and Trenner² had reported on the cis and trans isomers of 1-(p-chlorobenzylidene)-2-methyl-5-methoxyindenylacetic acid. The condensation of 2-(N-morpholinyl)-indene (1, prepared by the reaction of 2-indanone³ and morpholine) with P-bromobenzaldehyde was conducted by refluxing them in the presence of acetic acid for 4 hours. Acid hydrolysis of the reaction mixture followed by dry column chrcmatography over sillica gel using a fraction collector afforded two iscmeric monobenzylidenes, compounds 2(36.6%, mp 110–111°)and 3(1.3%, mp 115–116°) and a dibenylidene, compound 4 (8.7%, mp 205°). The relative rations of the mono- and dibenzylidenes seemed to depend on the reaction conditions. Higher yields of the monobenzylidenes 2 and 3 were obtained by conducting the reaction in the presence of UV light. The structures of these monobenzylidenes were established as cis and trans isomers of 1-(p-bromobenzylidenes)-2-indanone on the Basis of elemental analyses and ir and nmr spectroscopy. The ir spectra⁴ (CHCl₃)

of compounds 2 1725 (c=0), 1620 (c=c)cm^?1] and 31710 (c=o), 1570, 1600 (c=c) cm^?1] were consistent with the structures. The molecular ion peaks as well as the fragmentation patterns in the mass spectra of both these compounds were consistent with the assigned structures. Before going into the omr discussion it should be pointed out that treatment of compound 2 with athylene glycol in the presence of p-toluene sulfonic acid produced two ketals, 5 (38.3% mp, 118–120°) and 6 (30.6% mp, 125–126°). As depicted; the ketals 5and 6 were also found (by omr) to be related to each other as cis and trans isomers. Furthermore, each of them could be hydrolyzed with acid to the corresponding monobenzylidenes 2 and 3 without any isomerization. However, UV irradiation of compounds 2 and 3 gave equilibrium mixtures containing both the isomers, indicating isomerization had occurred under photolytic conditions.