Transformations of substituted tetrahydro-8h-indeno[1,2-d]imidazoles in concentrated sulfuric acid

The five-membered ring of the indene system in 2,8-dioxo-3a-hydroxy-8a-R-1,2,3a,8a-tetrahydro-8H-indeno[1,2-d]imidazoles is hydrolytically cleaved in concentrated sulfuric acid solutions. Depending on the reaction conditions, compounds for which substituted 4-(o-carboxyphenyl)imidazol-2-one (II), 1,8-dioxo-1,2-dihydro-8H-imidazo[4,3-a]isoindole (III), and spiro[imidazolidine-4,3′-phthalide] structures were assumed were isolated.