Naphthyl ketones

Steam distil from a 1 - 5 litre three-necked flask until the odour of nitrobenzene is no longer perceptible in the distillate (6-12 hours). Extract the cold residue with three 100 ml. portions of ether, dry the combined extracts with anhydrous magnesium sulphate, and distil oflF the ether. The residue solidifies and consists of almost pure methyl P-naphthyl ketone, m.p. 52° the yield is 30 g. Upon recrystallisation from glacial acetic acid, the m.p. is raised to 54°. 

Prepare a solution containing about 100 g, of potassium hypochlorite from commercial calcium hypochlorite ( H.T.H. ) as detailed under -Dimethylacrylic Acid, Section 111,142, Note 1, and place it in a 1500 ml. three-necked flask provided with a thermometer, a mechanical stirrer and a reflux condenser. Warm the solution to 55° and add through the condenser 85 g, of p-acetonaphthalene (methyl p-naphthyl ketone) (1). Stir the mixture vigorously and, after the exothermic reaction commences, maintain the temperature at 60-70° by frequent cooling in an ice bath until the temperature no longer tends to rise (ca. 30 minutes). Stir the mixture for a further 30 minutes, and destroy the excess of hypochlorite completely by adding a solution of 25 g. of sodium bisulphite in 100 ml. of water make sure that no hypochlorite remains by testing the solution with acidified potassium iodide solution. Cool the solution, transfer the reaction mixture to a 2-litre beaker and cautiously acidify with 100 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid. Filter the crude acid at the pump. 

The commercial product, m.p. 53-55°, may be used. Alternatively the methyl -naphthyl ketone may be prepared from naphthalene as described in Section IV,136. The Friedel - Crafts reaction in nitrobenzene solution yields about 90 per cent, of the p-ketone and 10 per cent, of the a-ketone in carbon disulphide solution at — 15°, the proportions ore 65 per cent, of the a- and 35 per cent, of the p-isomer. With chlorobenzene ns the reaction medium, a high proportion of the a-ketone is also formed. Separation of the liquid a-isomer from the solid p-isomer in Such mixtures (which remain liquid at the ordinary temp>erature) is readily effected through the picrates the picrate of the liquid a-aceto compound is less soluble and the higher melting. 

Isopropylnaphthalenes produced by alkylation of naphthalene with propjdene have gained commercial importance as chemical intermediates, eg, 2-isopropylnaphthalene [2027-17-OJ, and as multipurpose solvents, eg, mixed isopropylnaphthalenes. Alkylation of naphthalene with alkyl haUdes (except methyl hahdes), acid chlorides, and acid anhydrides proceeds in the presence of anhydrous aluminum chloride by Friedel-Crafts reactions (qv). The products are alkylnaphthalenes or alkyl naphthyl ketones, respectively (see Alkylation). 

Benzanthrone has been prepared by three general methods, the first of which is generally regarded as the best (i) by heating a reduction product of anthraquinone with sulfuric acid and glycerol,1 or with a derivative of glycerol, or with acrolein. The anthraquinone is usually reduced in sulfuric acid solution, just prior to the reaction, by means of aniline sulfate, iron, , or copper. It has also been prepared (2) by the action of aluminum or ferric chloride on phenyl-a-naphthyl ketone, and (3) from i-phenylnaphthalene-2-carboxylic acid. ... 

In a 3-I. flask are placed a solution of 184 g. (4.6 moles) of sodium hydroxide in 300-400 cc. of water and sufficient ice to make the total volume about 1500 cc. Chlorine is passed into the solution, keeping the temperature below 0° by means of a salt-ice bath, until the solution is neutral to litmus (Note i). After the addition of a solution of 34 g. of sodium hydroxide in 50 cc. of water, the flask is supported by a clamp and equipped with a thermometer and an efficient stirrer. The solution is warmed to 55°, and 85 g. (0.5 mole) of methyl d-naphthyl ketone (Note 2) is added. The mixture is vigorously stirred and, after the exothermic reaction commences, the temperature is kept at 60-70° (Note 3) by frequent cooling in an ice bath until the temperature no longer tends to rise. This requires thirty to forty minutes. The solution is stirred for thirty minutes longer and then the excess hypochlorite is destroyed by adding a solution of 50 g. of sodium bisulfite in 200 cc. of water (Note 4). After cooling to room temperature, the reaction mixture is transferred to a 4-I. beaker and carefully acidified with 200 cc. 

In a 3-I. round-bottomed flask 250 g. of commercial calcium hypochlorite is dissolved in i 1. of warm water and a warm solution of 175 g. of potassium carbonate and 50 g. of potassium hydroxide in 500 cc. of water is added. The flask is stoppered and shaken vigorously until the semi-solid gel which first forms become quite fluid. The suspended solid is removed by filtration on a large Buchner funnel, washed with 200 cc. of water, and sucked as dry as possible with the aid of a rubber dam and an efficient suction pump. The filtrate of approximately 1500 cc. is placed in a 3-I. round-bottomed flask and is ready for the addition of methyl /3-naphthyl ketone. 

This method may be used for the preparation of larger quantities, a batch twenty times this size giving a yield of 87 per cent. It may be used also for the preparation of other aromatic acids where suitable ketones are available. Methyl a-naphthyl ketone prepared by Caille s method is not suitable for the preparation of a-naphthoic acid as it contains at least 30 per cent of the methyl d-naphthyl ketone. 

Methyl malonatc, 13, 100 Methyl 0-naphthyl ketone, 17, 65 Methyl nitrite, 16, 44 Methyl oxalate, 10, 70 3-Methylpentanoic acid, 11, 76 Methyl 0-phenylethyl ketone, 16, 49... 

An unusually facile hydroxydemethoxylation reaction has been reported for 1-benzoyl-4-methoxynaphthalene. The use of 0-enriched hydroxide confirmed that reaction occurs by the NAr pathway rather than by cleavage of the oxygen to methyl bond. A related reaction is observed in 3-(4-methoxy-l-naphthoyl)indole derivatives. These results indicate the possibility of SnAt activation by a 4-carbonyl group the reaction is facilitated by use of a naphthyl ketone as substrate and DMSO as solvent. ... 

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