A novel method for protection and deprotection of the carbonyl groups in 1,2-indanedione by conversion to dioxa-dithiapropellanes

1,2-Indanedione reacts with two equivalents of 2-mercaptoethanol to produce, instead of the expected 1,2-bis(1,3-oxathiolane), a dioxa-dithia[4.4.3] propellane. Other 1,2-indanediones produce analogous compounds. The protecting groups are removed at room temperature with NBS in aqueous acetone, to produce the original diketone.