In order to improve the relatively low yield (a. 35%) previously observed in the synthesis of tri- o-thymotide (TOT, 1) from o-thymotic acid (21, the cyclodehydration was studied using a variety of conditions. The low yield is due to the formation of di-o-thymotide (DOT, 3), previously reported, and at least three other products (4 4 which apparently result from the acid-catalyzed decarboxylation of 2 and subsequent condensation with thymol (7). Using ...
