Synthesis of 1,2,3,9b-tetrahydro-9b-hydroxy-1-phenylpyrrolo[2,1-a]isoindol-5-one via the hydrazinolysis of 2-phenyl-2(2-phthalimidoethyl)indan-1,3-dione

Hydrazinolysis of 2-phenyl-2-(2-phthalimidoethyl)indan-1,3-dione gave 1,2,3,9b-tetrahydro-9b-hydroxy-1-phenylpyrrolo[2,1-a]isoindol-5-one via the conversion of 2-(2-aminoethyl)-2-phenylindan1,3-dione into the carbinolamine which underwent ring expansion followed by a transannular cyclisation.