PYROLYSIS OF POLYCARBONYL COMPOUNDS .4. PYROLYSIS OF 3,3-DIMETHYLINDANE-1,2-DIONE AND O-ISOPROPENYLBENZALDEHYDE AT 600 DEGREES AND 800 DEGREES

Pyrolysis of 3,3-dimethylindane-1,2-dione (IV) at 600°/0·6 mm with short contact time gave benzofulvene (V), o-isopropenylbenzaldehyde (VI), and 3-methyl-indan-1-one (VII). The aldehyde (VI) was shown by deuterium labelling to undergo randomization of hydrogen atoms between the aldehyde and isopropenyl groups at 600°. Pyrolysis of the dione (IV) at 800°/0·6 mm gave the hydrocarbons phenyl-acetylene, styrene, α- methylstyrene, o-methylstyrene, indene, benzofulvene, and naphthalene; the formation of these from the products (VI) and (VII) is discussed. © 1969, CSIRO. All rights reserved.