Reaction of Imines with 5,5‐Dimethyl‐1, 3‐cyclohexandione

The reaction of imines 1 with 5,5‐dimethyl‐1,3‐cyclohexandione 2 in methanol was investigated. When the reaction was carried out without a catalytic amount of molecular iodine, ring‐opening derivatives of xanthenediones 3 were obtained in high yields. On the other hand, when molecular iodine and a catalytic amount of zinc powder were employed as the catalyst, xanthenediones derivatives 4 were obtained with excellent yields.