Switchable synthesis of natural-product-like lawsones and indenopyrazoles through regioselective ring-expansion of indantrione

Abstract

Lawsones and indenopyrazoles harbor an interesting benzo-fused cyclic ketone scaffold as an essential structural motif in diverse bioactive molecules, however, their synthesis remains challenging. Here, the authors report an efficient synthesis of lawsones and indenopyrazolones via the solvent-controlled regioselective ring-expansion of indantriones involving a 1,2-carbonyl shift.