Synthesis and aldol cyclotrimerization of 4,7-di-tert-butylacenaphthenone

Abstract

An efficient gram scale synthesis of the previously unknown 4,7-di-tert-butylacenaphthenone (3b) is reported. The facile isomerization of epoxide 9b to ketone 3b occurs simply on stirring a solution of 9b with silica gel at room temperature. Aldol cyclotrimerization of 3b with titanium tetrachloride gives 2,5,8,11,14,17-hexa-tert-butylde cacyclene (1b) in 58% isolated yield. X-ray crystal structures have been obtained for the synthetic intermediates 4,7-di-tert-butylacenaphthene (2b) and 4,7-di-tert-butylacenaphthylene (8b).Key words: aromatic, decacyclene, hydrocarbon, nonalternant, polycyclic.