Phenalenone was prepared by the method of Fieser and Hershberg.'o Benzene and hexane were stirred over HzS04, distilled, and stored in brown bottles until needed. Tetrahydrofuran was refluxed over sodium metal and benzophenone until the blue color of benzophenone ketyl was observed, and then it was distilled just before use. NMR spectra were recorded on a Varian EM-390 spectrometer and correspond to those reported in the literaturesii ...
