STUDIES IN THE CYCLIZATION OF THE PRODUCTS OF STOBBE CONDENSATION WITH PROPIOPHENONE
The isomeric mixture of the half-esters resulting from the Stobbe condensation of propiophenone with diethyl succinate is cyclized with stannic chloride as well as with sodium acetate in acetic anhydride. Cyclization of the ethyl half-ester chlorides with stannic chloride gives the keto-ester "4-carbethoxy-2-methyl-3-phenylcyclopent-2-enone." This on acid hydrolysis and decarboxylation yields 2-methyl-3-phenylcyclopent-2-enone, from which 2-methyl-3-phenylcyclopentanone is prepared by catalytic reduction. The keto-ester on Clemmensen reduction gives the corresponding unsaturated ester from which 3-methyl-2-phenylcyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid is obtained by catalytic hydrogenation and hydrolysis. 2-Methyl-3-phenylcyclopentanone and 3-methyl-2-phenylcyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid are of interest as intermediates for analogues of steroid hormones. From the latter 3-methyl-2-phenylcyclopentyl hydroxymethyl ketone and its acetate are prepared.Cyclization of the isomeric mixture of the ethyl half-esters with sodium acetate in acetic anhydride gives methyl 4-acetoxy-1-ethyl-2-naphthoate which is converted into 1-ethyl-4-methoxy-2-naphthoic acid.