To a 3-liter beaker containing 1200—1500 cc. of hot water was added 100 g. of 2-(ethoxycarbonyl)-1,3-indandione sodium salt. The solution was cooled to 70° and with vigorous agitation the sodium salt was decomposed with 100 cc. of sulfuric acid solution (3 parts of concentrated sulfuric acid and 1 part of water). The mixture was cooled in an icebath to 15° and filtered. The product when dry weighed 59 g. (99% of the theoretical). The total 1,3-indandione obtained from 500 g. of diethyl phthalate was 236 g. of a pale yellow solid; m. p. 127—129°. Recrystallization from dioxane-benzene mixture by addition of petroleum ether yielded long glistening needles, m. p. 130—131°, which checked the value given by Wislicenus.
© Collected Ruslan Anatolievich Kiper, burewestnik@mail.ru