Could you give the Zn-procedure from that paper? Or is online somewhere or has been posted before?

Sorry -- the ref for the reaction is at:

https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/chemistry/tryptophan.html

It seems, from the r(x) scheme, like Cu and Zn should be interchangable....  look at the picture w/t/ r(x) scheme.

--
Micro

The full reference - Synthesis 171 (1974) - can be retrieved for free, see

Post 363228

(Rhodium: "Free Online Chemistry & Medicinal Journals", Novel Discourse)

Sorry, damn Steel Reserves.  I switched to Corona tonight.

I signed up for that 30-day thingy, but Synthesis 1971 vol 3 goes up to 153 and vol 4 starts at 175....

Honestly, I think I need a new approach.  I think I can get cyclohexene; I need cyclohexanol and a ketone.  Does this sound right (sorry, been a while:)

Cyclohexene + HCl / H2O -> cyclohexanol

Cyclohexanol + paracetic acid -> hexanone

Thanks,

--
Micro

Wasn't it cyclohexenone?

conclusion in older threads was that only cyclohexenone works.

imho the most appealing route seems to be ketone in tetraline.
tetraline is ass-cheap (if you can get it).