Abstract
Methyl-2-(3-oxo-3-aryl) benzoates derived from acid catalyzed air oxidative fragmentation of 2-aryl-1-tetralones were efficiently undergone intramolecular-Claisen condensation in the presence of potassium tertiary butoxide. The resulting 2-benzoyl-1-indanones formed in two-step ring contractions were further subjected to indium triflate mediated retro-Claisen condensation to get 1-indanones.
Graphical Abstract
![](/cms/asset/853e5ba7-fd31-418c-9aa2-4da94e2988e1/lsyc_a_1771370_uf0001_b.jpg)
Acknowledgments
The authors thank sophisticated analytical instrumentation facility (SAIF), CDRI, Lucknow, India for NMR and HRMS analysis.