Indane

Derivatives

Derivatives include compounds such as 1-methyl-indane and 2-methyl-indane (where one methyl group is attached to the five carbon ring), 4-methyl-indane and 5-methyl-indane (where one methyl group is attached to the benzene ring), various dimethyl-indanes, and various pharmaceutical derivatives. Other derivatives can be obtained indirectly, e.g. the reaction of diethyl phthalate with ethyl acetate, using metallic sodium and ethanol as a catalyst. The reaction yields indanedione ethyl ester, which can react with the sodium ions yielding a salt. This can be reversed by adding an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid.

Indane can also be converted in a catalytic reactor to other aromatics such as xylene.

Another derivative is 1,3-indandione.

Dr. David E. Nichols developed a family of indane derivatives that are empathogen-entactogens. They are very close derivatives of other empathogen-entactogens such as MDMA and MDA. However, they are not neurotoxic at therapeutic doses because the alpha-methyl group is bound and therefore cannot form a free radical. Examples include MDAI, MDMAI, and MDAT. Nichols also created an indane isomer of amphetamine, 2-aminoindane, and an iodized derivative 5-IAI.

Indane is also known to be used in the synthesis of sulofenur.