Synthesis of 2-aryl-4-azaindan-1,3-diones and 2-aryl-4-aza-5,6-benzindan-1,3-diones

Condensation of 2-hydroxymethylnicotinic and 2-hydroxymethylquinoline-3-carboxylic acid lactones with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of sodium methoxide gives, respectively, 2-aryl-4-azaindan-1,3-diones and 2-aryl-4-aza-5,6-benzindan-1,3-diones. Alkylation of 2-aryl-4-azaindan-1,3-diones with diazomethane gives the N-methylbetaines. According to the IR spectra, in the solid state the 4-azaindan-1,3-diones seemto have a strongly polarized enol structure.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, Vol. 6, No. 5, pp. 647–650, May, 1970.