Synthesis and structure of an arylpyran normal, pseudodiacid showing recognition

Abstract

Oxidation of 1,4-bis(4′-oxo-2′,2′-dimethylpent-2-yl)benzene with hypochlorite produces 1,4-bis(3′-carboxy-2′-methylbut-2-yl)benzene and 3-(4′-carboxyphenyl)-3,3-dimethylpropanoic acid. Cyclization of this mixture forms 3,3,7,7-tetramethyl-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydro-s-indacen-1,5-dione, 3,3,7,7-tetramethyl-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydro-as-indacen-1,5-dione (5) and 6-carboxy-3,3-dimethyl-1-indanone (6). Ketoacid (6) is converted to the arylpyran pseudoacid 7-carboxy-3-hydroxy-4,4-dimethylisobenzopyran-1-one (7). In the crystal structure of (7), carboxylic acid and the pseudoacid groups each form complementary dimer hydrogen bonds linking the molecules in chains. Contact O···O distances reflect their differing energetics, with pseudoacyl O···O at 2.78(1)A and carboxylic O···O at 2.62(1)A. A normal, pseudodiacid shows complementary hydrogen bonds between the two similar functions forming chains.