The oxidation of a series of 1,2-dihydronaphthalenes substituted in the aromatic ring was investigated with thallium trinitrate (TTN) in methanol or in trimethylorthoformate (TMOF) as solvent. In all cases, indans are produced, although the yield varied from excellent to poor, depending on the structure of the substrate. The presence of an electron-donating group in the substrate favors the rearrangement, whereas significant amounts of glycolic derivatives, as well as naphthalenes, were obtained in the oxidation of 1,2-dihydronaphthalenes bearing electron-withdrawing groups, such as Br and NO2. Mechanisms for the formation of each of these products are proposed.
ring contraction; oxidation; indans; thallium(III)
