Synthesis of ninhydrin through a multistep reaction was developed as an organic chemistry laboratory experiment for upperdivision undergraduate students.The bright yellow ninhydrin solid was synthesized using diethyl phthalate as the feedstock via a sequence organic process including Claisen condensation, hydrolysis, decarboxylation, nitrosation, deoxime, reduction, and oxidation.In this experiment, various handson experimental organic synthetic techniques, such as reflux, temperature control, filtration, vacuum drying, recrystallization were utilized.Moreover, melting point test, IR and NMR spectra were used to characterize the final product.The design of ninhydrin synthesis experiment is helpful to improve the fundamental operation capability and experimental skills of the upperdivision undergraduate students.

diethyl benzene1,2dicarboxylate; 2,2dihydroxyindane1,3dione (ninhydrin); multistep synthesis