The synthesis and reactions of some derivatives of C-acetylorsellinic acid

Abstract
The interconversion of the phytotoxic C-acetylorsellinic acid analogues produced by Ceratocystis ulmi is described and a number of derivatives of these compounds have been prepared. The 4-methyl and 2,4-dimethyl ethers of the natural products have been synthesised from the readily available 5,7-dimethoxyindan-1-one.