The Reaction of Phosphonium Ylids with o-Quinones and Triketones

Abstract

The reaction of 1,2-benzo [a] phenazine-8, 9-dione 1 and/or 1,2,3-indantrione 2, with phosphonium ylides has been studied. When 1 was reacted with two molar amounts of methoxy-(3a) and/or ethoxycarbonylmethylenetriphenylphosphorane (3b), in THF, at the reflux temp, for 3 hrs, dimethyl (4a) and/or diethyl 1,2-dihydrobenzo a furo [3,2-h] phenazine-1,2-dicarboxylate (4b), along with triphenylphosphine oxide and triphenylphosphine were obtained. On the other hand, reaction of equimolar amounts of ylides 3 with the red trione 2 in THF at room temp., afforded colourless crys tals of 2′,4′-dihydroxyspiro [indan-2,3′ (2′H)-indeno [1,2-b] pyran]-1,3,5′(4′H)-trione diacetate (5a) or dipropionate (5b), together with triphenylphosphine oxide. Formation of 6-membered dihydro aromatic ring like 5, is considered as a new reaction of phos phoranes. The structure of the new compounds 4 and 5 was confirmed and the reaction mechanisms are discussed.