The effect of solvent on oxidative cleavage of the Hajos–Parrish ketone derived hydrindene– diols 1, and Wieland–Miescher ketone derived octaline–diols 2 with Pb (OAc) 4 is presented. Various solvents were screened and compared for these domino reactions. Changing the solvent influenced the reaction rate, product distribution, and chemical yield in the octalin–diol series, while no-effect was detected in the lower homologue hydrindene– ...