Unusual Schmidt reaction of some 2-benzylideneindane-1,3-diones

Department of Chemistry, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra-136 119, India E-mail : chem@granth.kuk.ernet.in Fax : 91-01744-238277, 238628 Manuscript received 3 September 2003 Schmidt reaction of 2-benzylideneindane-1,3-diones (1) affords 2-(a-aminobenzylidene)indane-1,3-diones (2) and/or indeno[1,2- b]quinolin-11-ones (3) in fairly good yields depending upon the nature of the substituent(s) in the benzylidene phenyl ring.